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The Commoner.
MARCH" 2 6,' 19 Of
5
his Commoner; to 'discover the explanation of
The Mystery of 1908."
The Inter Ocean of January 23 printed thia
letter:
"Why Bryan Failed With the Democratic
Editors"
To the Editor: In your editorial of January
20, under this caption, you state truth with ji
wrong interpretation, as it seems to me. The
weakness of the democratic press of the north
Is a' fact recognized by yourself, Mr. Bryan and
all of us. But as to the cause or causes of said
fact there is a wide difference of opinion. The
writer believes in the usefulness of both attack
and defense within the bounds of reason and
good intentions. Without critics retrogression
would set in and life would not be worth the
living; therefore, rational and kind criticism is
vital to human progress. Your criticism of Mr.
Bryan in this Instance is within the limits of
decency, and as an admirer of the noble com
moner the writer appreciates your Ilberal-mlnd-edness
in dealing with your political opponents.
Hear the other side.
You ask, "Why was there no strong demo
cratic press to support the party at this critical
juncture? What has become of it and what
was the manner of its taking off?" Your answer
to these questions belittle Mr. Bryan's great
ness, with no criticism of the democratic editors
for their lukewarmness in support of the great
est living teacher of pure democracy. True,
Mr. Bryan makes speeches, just as Abraham Lin
coln did before he had an opportunity to do
things, and just as editors write good teachings
without doing anything that revolutionizes the
world. But Mr. Bryan is also "standard by per
formance," as is proven by his record as a very
live wire in congress, his accumulation of a
modest competence free from all taint. As a
good neighbor ho Is highly esteemed; as a
teacher, by precept and practice, of practical
right living on this earth right now he has
no superior. In every department of practical
life, whenever and wherever he has had an op
portunity to prove his great worth as a man
of sound sense and pure personality, he has not
been found wanting.
You mention the "cold analysis of cold type."
May this not be of that sordid kind in no way
calculated to give honor to whom honor belongs
In the less frigid realm of a heart pulsating with,
the red blood of a true lover of humanity? The
writer is strongly of the opinion that the demo
cratic press was injuriously Infected with the
same germ of "vulpine cunning" that poisoned
such a large per cent of the systems of the
republican press. This germ is of the ubiqui
tous sort that gives rise to pandemic moral dis
ease, and the writer does not hate men who are
afflicted by it any more than he hates men suf
fering tuberculosis, but he cordially hates the
germ.
So, without casting any aspersions upon the
honor and intentions of editors in general nor
democratic editors in particular, the writer be
lieves it fair to presume that democratic editors
are human and still have need of food, raiment
and shelter, and therefore not immune from the
corrupting influences of the organized moneyed
Interests that cuts so gigantic a swath in the
affairs of the entire world today. This power,
notorious under the generic term of "the inter
ests," is solidly against Mr. Bryan, and its para
lyzing influence in snuffing out the democratic
press, hushing the voice of all but the most
courageous souls, and. even benumbing con
sciences, thus tending to turn the tide of human
affairs away from that liberty for which the
fathers fought, Is all too well known to those
who know before it is too late. To all but the
minority, which Is too profoundly Imbued, with
the spirit of loftr principles to yield to the
awful tempter, this modern "devil," alias "plu
tocracy," takes out upon its mountain of gold
and there whispers into the ear of weak hu
manity those oily suggestions calculated to de
ceive the elect. You, Mr. Editor, know it very
well. It is the awful lie that makes the phil
osophy olgovernment, as set forth by a pure and
lofty soul, seem "a little incoherent and consid
erably overwrought." When we have lifted our
natures up to the ethical standard it will not
thus appear.
Most men advise fighting the "devil" with
fire, but Mr. Bryan warns us never to do any
thing of the kind, because the "devil" knows
more about fire than all of us; it is his spe
cialty. Never try to defeat an expert at his
own game. Mr. Bryan never advises fighting
corrupt politics with corrupt politics. One very
close to him told the writer that Bryan is a
crank on principle, and that he would not say
what he does not bellevo if ho know it would
make him a million votes. This in his real
weakness as a politician, which is his strength
as a thoroughly moral man. Nothing ho over
uttered ever lacked tho true ring of ethics, but
who is so idiotic as to claim ethics to be a' ruling
factor in American politics?
It is clear to tho mind of the jtrltor that a
man can be too good to excite the enthusiastic
support of a majority of his fellow men, and
that Mr. Bryan belongs to this unfortunate
fortunate class.
I trust, Mr. Editor, that what is written above
will help you to be persuaded that Mr. Bryan's
greatness can not bo accounted for by his talent
in oratory and "pleasing presence." Others with
more ability in these lines have not risen to
Bryan's class of American citizenship. No, Mr.
Bryan is great because ho poscessos tho elements
of true greatness, which all his fierce and often
unjust critics can in no way destroy, because
nothing they have, can or may say alters facts,
or can dethrone the love for such a man from
tho hearts of tho millions of American people
who will deem it an honor to vote for him as
many times as opportunity offers.
Your editorial on "Can American Government
Be Libeled?" is most excellent in every particu
lar and gives forth tho true ring of the old guard
of American. liberty. Very respectfully,
Barrett a. Norton, m. d.
Aurora, 111., January 21. .
1 he I anrr in Congress
On March 16 President Taft sent to congress
this special message:
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I have convened the congress in this extra ses
sion in order to enable it to give immediate con
sideration to the revision of the Dingley tariff
act. Conditions affecting production, manufac
ture and business generally have so changed in
the last twelve years as to require a' readjust
ment and revision of the Import duties imposed
by that act. More than this, the present tariff
act, with the other sources of government rev
enue, does not furnish income enough to pay
the authorized expenditures. By July 1 next,
the excess of expenses over receipts for the cur
rent fiscal year will exceed $100,000,000. The
successful party in the late election is pledged
to a revision of the tariff. The country and the
business community especially expect it. Tho
prospect of a change in the rates of import
duties always causes a suspension or halt in
business because of the uncertainty as to tho
changes to be made and their effect. It is there
fore of the highest importance that the new
bill should be agreed on and passed with as
much speed as possible consistent with its due
and thorough consideration. For these reasons,
T have deemed the present to be an extraordi
nary occasion within the meaning of the consti
tution, justifying and requiring the callinj of
an extra session. In my Inaugural address I
stated in a summary way the principles upon
which, in my judgment, the revision of the tariff
should proceed and indicated at least one new
source of revenue that might be properly re
sorted to In order to avoid a future deficit. It
Is not necessary for me to repeat what I then
said.
I venture to suggest that the Vital business
interests of the country require that the atten
tion of the congress in this session be chiefly
devoted to the consideration of the new tariff
bill and that the less time given to other sub
jects of legislation in this session, the better
for the country. (Signed.)
WILLIAM H. TAFT.
The White House, March 16, 1009.
THE PROPOSED TARIFF BELL
The ways and means committee, of the house
presented to the- house, on March 17, the tariff
bill which the committee has had under .consid
eration for a considerable period of- time.
Main Points of the Bill
The Washington correspondent for tho Omaha
World-Herald gives the following as the main
points of the bill:
Some duties 'are raised and some lowered.
It is estimated that the revenue under the
bill will be $300,000,000.
Provision is made for a tax on property trans
fers and it is calculated a revenue of $20,000,
000 may be derived from this source.
Graduated Inheritance tax Is included.
If the bill does not wipe out the deficit it
is proposed to "issue $40,000,000 of Panama
."
ii ?j
canal bonds to relmburso tho treasury for tho
original purchase.
No change is mado on agricultural Imple
ments except plows, on which tho duty Is cut
25 per cont. ,
Coffee Is not changed. ' .
From Dutlnblo to Frcb
Wood pulp (with restrictions.)
Somo chemicals.
Iron ore and basic slag. .,. .
Decreases
Various irons.
Somo classes of lumber.
Fresh meat, bacon.
Barley and barley malt.
Refined sugar.
Certain woods.
Plows.
Boots and shoes.
Increases v
Perfumeries, cocoa, spices.
Lemons, pineapples, peas.
Mercerized fabrics, stockings!
Tea.
'J
SOME OF TIIE PROVISIONS
Tho bill authorizes tho issuo of treasury cer
tificates to tho amount of $250,000,000, tho
same to run one year. It provldos for an in
heritance tax. On this point tho Associated
Press says: Tho Inheritance tax provision of
tho bill is similar to tho Now York state law.
It provides a tax of flvo per cent on all inheri
tances over $500 that aro collateral Inheritances,
or In which strangers aro tho legatees. In cases
of direct inheritance tho taxes prescribed aro:
On $10,000 to $100,000, ono per cont; on
$100,000 to $500,000, two per cent, and on '
thoso over $500,000, three per cont. It is esti
mated that $20,000,000 annually will bo de
rived from this tax.
Referring to other provisions of tho bill tho
Associated Press says:
Downward revision, maximum and minimum
provisions which impose an average maximum
duty per cent in excess of tho present tariff,
and numerous provisions by which it 1b esti
mated that the revenue to tho government will
bo increased from forty to fifty million dollars
aro tho salient features of tho new tariff bill
which was introduced in tho house today by
Representative Serono E. Payne, chairman of
the ways and means committee. Tho recom
mendations mado by President Taft that an In
heritance tax bo provided and that a limited
amount of tobacco and sugar bo admitted free
from the Philippines aro included in tho bill.
Tho measure also provides for the issuance of
Panama canal bonds to the amount of $40,
000,000 to reimburse tho treasury for tho orig
inal purchase of tho canal and re-enacts tho
provision for tho issue of treasury certificates,
the amount being Increased from $100,000,000
to $250,000,000.
While there Is no duty imposed upon coffee,
tea is taxed eight cents when imported from
the country where It Is produced and nine cents
when from other than the producing country.
Tho Internal revenue tax on cigarettes is ma
terially increased while the tax on beer and
whisky Is undisturbed. A cut of fifty per cont
Is mado In the steel and lumber schedules, and
iron ore, hides, tallow, cottonseed oil and works
of art more than twenty years old are placed on
the free list.
The tariff on boots and shoes is reduced forty
per cent and on other leather manufactures in
proportion. The pottery schedulo remains about
the same, but tho duties on window and plate
glass of tho smaller sizes are Increased, while
the duties on the larger sizes are reduced. The
tariff on wool of the first and second class, used
principally In clothing, is not disturbed, but on
wool of the third class, known as carpet wool,
it Is reduced of the cheaper grades. A flvo
cent reduction is made in the duties on shoddy
and waste while wool tops are assessed six cents
a pound more than tho duty on scoured wool,
which is unchanged. The recommendations for
placing wood pulp on tho free list and reducing
the duties on print paper with certain restric
tions, made by tho Mann committee of the house
aro Incorporated In the bill.
Tho duty on refined sugar is reduced 5-100
of a cent a pound and on dextrin a half cent a
pound. A reduction of half cent a pound Is also
made In tho duty on starch, with the exception
of potato starch. Zinc in ore Is assessed one
cent per pound for the zinc contained. The
tariff on pig iron Is reduced from $4 to $2.50
per ton.
The principal increases are made in the duties-
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