THE AMERICAN ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15169, 7 December 1912, Page 9

THE AMERICAN ELECTIONS.

DEMOCRATS AiyD THE TARIFF.

EFFECT ON WOOL DUTIES.

A REDUCTION EXPECTED.

[FROM our own correspondent.]

San Francisco, November 13. The Democratic candidate for the Presidency, Mr. Woodrow Wilson, secured a sweeping victory. He carried 59 of the 48 States of the Union, and will have 431 votes in the electoral college, as against 100 divided between Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Taft. ■ Although thus overwhelmingly elected Mr. Wilson received a minority of the votes cast. This is a result of the complicated system by which the United States elects its President. The candidate who sarries a State by a majority of even one receives the entire electoral vote of that State, and all the votes cast for his opponents in that State count for nothing. For instance, in the State of Illinois, with something like a million and a-half voters, Mr. Wilson won by 16,105. This gives him 29 votes in the electoral college.

While it is not improbable that Mr. Woodrow Wilson would have been elected in any event, it is incontestable that his immensely large majority in the electoral college is duo to the split in the Republican party caused by the Independent candidature of Mr. Theodore Roosevelt. The latter's support indubitably came- from the rank and file of the Republican party and the Democrats refused to be beguiled into deserting their candidate. It now appears very plainly that had the Republican Convention accepted Mr. Roosevelt as its candidate instead of Mr. Taft it might have beaten Mr. Wilson, but that even if Mr. Roosevelt had not " bolted " Mr. Taft could not have been elected against Mr. Wilson. The President four years ago received 321 votes in the electoral college. On this -occasion he has but 12, representing the three small States of Idaho, Utah, and Vermont, with four each.

Can the Republicans Bally?

Mr. Taft says ho will go back to the practice, of the law to earn his livelihood, but will give as much of his time as he can spare to the task of reconstructing the Republican party. It is his view that tho rjarty should seek the favour of the people as " tho party that supports the Constitution." But it is a serious question whether or not the Republican party is not a thing of history as a party. ■ It has been going to pieces before the eyes of all men for the last three years. On the other hand many Republicans assert that tho Progressive party is a one-man party, and that with Mr. 'Roosevelt eliminated, as they claim his defeat has eliminated him, the Progressives will drift into inanition. Bitter strife in the next year or two will be engendered by the struggle for recognition as the official opposition to the victorious Democrats. ..

The Trusts and the Tariff.

Judging from the new President's preelection speeches tho two immediate tasks to which he will apply himself, are, first, the restoration of real competition between manufacturing and industrial corporations; and, second, the reduction of the tariff duties. These two policies he deems necessary to bring about a reduction in the cost of living. What his legislative proposals are for ensuring competition, and thus breaking up the trusts, ho has not stated in detail, and Mr. Roosevelt repeatedly challenged him on, this point. He at any rate is strongly opposed to the position that there are '*good trusts" and "bad trusts," and insists that any combination that restricts the free movement of trade must be dissolved. On the question of the tariff duties tho Democratic platform unequivocally declares that duties for protective purposes are unconstitutional. If this wore a serious declaration it would mean that pro- • tective duties were about to bo removed. No such eventuality is at all likely. The President-elect announces that he lias no intention of running amuck among the Ameprican industries. Moreover, _ there are not a. few Democratic Protectionists as was proved when the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Bill was under discussion three years ago. That no sudden or great tariff changes are expected is shown by the fact that, the result of the election occasioned hardly a ripple on the New York Stock Exchange. Nevertheless, duties will undoubtedly be reduced during the next two years, arid in some cases quite materially. The Democratic party, having full power, must proceed with this or utterly stultify itself, and it is admitted by all that some of the duties are higher than is necessary for protective purposes. One of the first (Schedules to be reformed will undoubtedly be that embracing wool duties. During President Tafl's term of office Congress has twice presented him a Bill reducing these rates, and each time he has vetoed it. The new Congress will be even more strongly in favour of low wool duties, and President Wilson will, not be found otherwise than acquiescent.