Salt Lake Tribune | 1915-08-15 | Page 6 | The Tariff Issue

THE TARIFr ISSUE News con es from Philadelph a that the Republican national leaders after holding a series of conferences with manufaeturera and business men of the country have decided to force the tariff issue to the front as soon as congress n eets and n ake protection to American industries tl e battle cry n the coming pres dent al campa gn This s the f rst step taken by National Cha rman Hilles toward placing a Republ can in the White House to succeed Woodrow Wil son Formal statement to this effect was made by Senator Penrose who took part in the conferences and will lead the fight The Republican leaders have worked out a very defin te plan and have deter m ned upon these things That they shall advocate the abol tion of and oppose the re enactment of the direct war tax That they shall oppose an increase in the ncome tax That they shall work for a great navy as a prune necessity for national de 1 f enee That they shall work for a sufficient army That they shall work for provis ons for the machinery of war That they shall seek to free this coun try from dependence upon Germany for destuffs and other chemicals That they shall work for a modification modifica-tion of laws enacted by the Wilson ad m nistratioh which have paralyzed busi ness enterprise and initiative Senator Penrose is the ranking minor ltv member of the senate finance com mittee and his selection to lead the tariff fight is quite natural under the c rcumstanoes so far as the senate is concerned Legislation of this eharae ter nsuallv originates in the house but 'as the bill s sole purpose is to furnish a theme for discussion it doecn t make much difference where it is offered Sen ator Penrose concludes his statement as follow Above all we must have the machinery ma-chinery of war the creat suns, stores of cartridge, powder and other materials AU will cost a creat deal of money but not eucb an amount as cannot easily be borne by the na tlon as k premium of Insurance. The necessity of having money for na Uonal praparedneae adds, therefore, another serious complication to our national deficit. The only way to solve the problem prob-lem e to restore those tariff duties In force before the advent of the pres ent administration and which furnish ample revenues Tbua prosperity will be snared and a larfe additional revenue acquired It Is evident that the Cnlted Statu must make preparation for reason able national defense It appears that he leaders of both part fee are In favor of such preparation No one advocates militarism or any war of astresslon, but the fact remains that, while we are potentially the most powerful nation la the world, we are practically defenseless We must build up a creat navy sad we must have a moderate army of sufficient s se. with a system of military training anil discipline for the people and a astem of reservtstSL While it la rather early to leisct the main issue of the campaign, there is no doubt st to the accuracy of the statement that the tariff question is to he forced to the front In this eonnee-t eonnee-t on it is worthy of note that Philadel phla is tn the field for the Republican national convention and that the name of Governor Brumbaugh of Pennayl anla will be placed before the dele gates as a presidential candidate. If the convention should be held in PhQ. delphia and Brumbaugh nominated it would he a tariff campaign no matter 1 at other questions might come up. rspeciallv would this be true with Pen rose to lead the fight. But whatever tl e paramount issue and whoever wins the nomination there will be a strong protection plank in the Republican platform plat-form and It will cut a very consider ahlA fimre In the eamnalsm