Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1909 — GOVERNOR MARSHALL TELLS OF TARIFF WAR [ARTICLE]

GOVERNOR MARSHALL TELLS OF TARIFF WAR

Believes Law Will Bring New Alignment of Voters. ENJOYED GRIDIRON DINNER Indianapolis, Ind., April 21. Just returned from the seat of the tariff war, in Washington, Governor Marshall yesterday summed up the situation there as he says it, thus: “It impressed me as would a lot of fellows caught outside when a rainstorm threatens, with only one umbrella to the bunch. As long as the whole number can find shelter beneath it, they are in perfect harmony, but when the crowd gets too thick and some of them are crowded outside, then they begin to fight among themselves. The tariff fight is nothing more or less than a fight among the protected interests to maintain the protection they have and to get more protection. I talked with a number of representatives of special interests who were in Washington to see that they lost none of their protection, and almost all of them agreed that the tariff bill is a special interests measure.

"One bright young Indianian who is there looking after the interests of a business with which he is connected told me he was disgusted with the whole affair and was actually ashamed of his own business. There is no indication, anywhere in Washington, that the interests of the consumer, or the common citizen, are being looked after. Protection for Pineapples. "For instance, they are determined that pineapples shall be protected. Some time ago some capitalists discovered that land in southern Florida, by using about 4,000 pounds of fertilizer to the acre, might be made to produce fine pineapples and they invested their money there'. They are producing pineapples, but to fertilize their land and make their pineapple orchards pay, they must sell their fruit at a very high price. They are after protection and it looks as if they will get it. As a consequence, the people of Indianapolis who buy pineapples will be compelled to pay from 15 to 20 cents apiece for them while, with the duty removed, they could be sent in from Cuba and delivered in Indianapolis so that any child could buy one for a 5-cent piece. That is merely an example of numerous phases of the fight for a high tariff.

"The Aldrich bill will be passed, in my opinion, and I do not believe that it can be altered, and passed, in such a way as to provide any benefit for the consumer.” Sees New Alignment. The Governor sees in the fight in Washington a force which, he believes, will bring a realignment of the voters in the two old parties in 1912. "It may not be sufficient to cause a renaming of either of the parties, but I am convinced that when the tariff bill becomes a law it will bring a new alignment,” he said. “The great trouble in the East at this time is to get men to vote as they actually think, and I believe the passage of the Aldrich bill will overcome this largely. There are a great many Republicans, I believe, who would have been voting the Democratic ticket these many years had it not been for the party name, and I believe that the dissatisfaction which will inevitably result from the passage of the bill will overcome the objections these voters have. I don’t mean to imply that all Democrats, however, are opposed to protection as is expressed in the Aldrich bill, but I believe that if me protectionist-; and anti-protectionists were divided, the great majority would be on the side of the antis.” Pleased with Reception. “I never had a more generous reception-,” said the Governor, “than at the banquet given by the club. I believe the members present belived what I said to be the truth, but am not convinced that they are ready to accept it and act upon it. New York, you know, is a great place for the pocketbook to be kept close to a political policy, and the speech I made could hardly be accepted in its entirety by any one who mixes his business with his national politics. They applauded me generously and I believe they enjoyed hearing me talk. I never was listened to more attentively, but somehow or other, I can’t feel they were deeply impressed with what I said.” From New York the Governor went to Washington, where he spent several days. With Mrs. Marshall, who accompanied him on the trip' he was received by President and Mrs. Taft at the White House, and visited the House and Senate. The Governor was a guest at the dinner given Saturday night by the Gridiron Club, where he went on invitation of James B. Hornaday, of The Indianapolis News. As he recalled the event when sitting in his office to-day, the Governor chuckled.