THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1909. FISCAL UNREST IN THE UNITED STATES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9629, 22 October 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1909. FISCAL UNREST IN THE UNITED STATES.

The New York correspondent of '/The Times" /London) reports that President Taft's western tour has failed to reconcile the Republicans in th« Wo§tem find.': middle-western States to the actually upward revision of the tariff instead of the* downward revision that had been expected, If honesty 'is to count for something in electioneering politics, the President's failure is an event upon which the American nation may be warmly Congratulated. For years the prevailing feeling in the wtistetn and middle-western States in regard to the Dingley tariff has been one of deep resentment. Not a quiet unprotesting feeliag of mere dissatisfaction, but one of angry outspoken resentment. By the general operation of the tariff, and by the particular pressure of the trusts which were originated and maintained in predatory vigor in the shelter of the tariff, the west felt that it was compelled to pay unreasonable tribute to the east In any case the cost of living is higher in the west than in the east. The manufacturing industry has its chief centres in the eastern States, and the railway charges raise the price of eastern manufactures to western consumers. The tariff not only compels westerners to buy goods produced in '< the eastern States, but to pay up to' the limit that can be enforced un- ] der the protective tariff. And the westerners have no adequate compensation. Hardworking westerners do not squeeze much consolation out of the assurance that buying and paying year after year under coercive conditions means that they are upholding the "national policy."* All they are conscious of is the i irritating fact that the tariff has diminished the exchange value of their earnings. Protection is the historic policy of the Republican party. The Republicans of the west I were willing to concede something to party. They did not ask for freetrade. But they claimed that the tariff should undergu a downward revision. The burden of artificiallyraised prices must be lightened. And the party leaders, including Mr Taft, the then candidate for the Presidency, promised a downward revision, promised it all through the campaign, and all over the country. On this cry President Taft got his election. It prevented an enormous number of votGs going to the Democratic candidate. And then occurred one of the most flagrant and shocking breaches of faith record ?d

in these days. Confirmed in power again, the Republicans m Congress revised the tariff in what keen analyeis revealed to be an upward rather than downward direction The western Republicans were sold oy the eastern Republicans. President Taft, it is fair to say, stands honourably clear of any complicity in the breach of faith. All that it was! possible for a man in his position to do he did to avert or minimise the breach. Towards the end he threatened to veto the bill unless it was modified in some important particulars. For a week or so the position in ConErefs was most critical. The President was fighting his own party. He had some success, but it did not amount to a great deal in view of the neneral result of the revision. Once the bill was signed the Preaident imposed upon himself the task of reconciling the people to j what had been done. He is a master of tactful conciliation, and his own courageous intervention at the critical stage of the struggle in Congress would naturally clothe his appeal with special force. But his mission to tne west, we are now told, was a failure. The sold and slaughtered Republicans ot those States are still unreconciled.