The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-11-18
WHAT CAUSED
THE SLIDE,
HarriSOny ReaSo It.
He Thinks "Oar Tom a Lamenlable
Failure as a Chairman.
Billy Mckinley Blamed For His Elk.
IRENE Position on the Tariff
Question.

rison talked freely today about the re-
cent defeat of his party and the causes
which brought it about, says a dispatch
from Washington to the Herald. The
overwhelming defeat of the republican
party. the president said, was due mainly
to the position Of the party on the tariff
question. The republicans forced the
issue to an extreme which did not meet
with the approval Of the people. An
other important element, the president
said. which had much to do with the de-
feat of the republicans was the force bill.
and it was felt at the north as well as
the south. The popular belief is that the
force bill is sure to keep the solid south
within the old lines. but in the presi-
dents estimation it did more than that,
for it brought to the support of the
democrats many votes in the north.
The verdict last Tuesday. the presi-
dent continued. could be construed in
but one way. 1t meant the condemna-
ton of the extreme high tariff policy of
the republicans. The inevitable result
IL tlle party was w Hopt loT d TeHeWdl
of power. was a modification of this
position, but not a remuneration alto
gether of the protective tariff policy.
which has been the keynote of every re-
publican for many years past.
President Harrison has very decided
views as to the conduct of the campaign.
He does not think very much of Chair
mar Carter, of the republican national
,,,,.,,ttnn IL, .~,-AtnI 30 NJ, Iv,to
appointment only when it became evil
dent that no more acceptable man could
be had. He said the campaign had been
mismanaged, and that much better re-
suits would have been secured but for
the rainbow chasing schemes to which
Mr.. Carter gave countenance and aid.
The president is particularly chagrined
at the results in his native state, and be
lieves it largely due a lack of gooC gen
eralship. What he wanted them to do,
press upon them was the absolute neces-
sity of keeping the republican states in
line and carrying New York.
The president said he had realized for
sometime past that the drift of sent.
ment was against him and his party, and
it was this that led him to force this ad-
VIC upoI INC parry ltdtclS. Iut t.STc-
gard Of this advice mad much (" do with
the result Of last tuesday. The presi-
dent realized before any election re
turns came in Tuesday that he was a de
feated man. He hoped for success until
the last hour. but admitted he had not
expected it.
One of his reasons for his doubt as to
his election was the well known disatfec-
ton Of "A number of prominent leaders OF
his party. This was evidenced with re
gard to Dudley. Quay and Cameron. As
to Cameron, the president believes he
not only failed to support the ticket, but
actually did all in his power to defeat it.
Cameron's influence, like Quay's extends
far beyond the confines of Pennsylvania,
and the president evidently realized that
both these gentlemen were in a position
to do much in ury to the ticket IN the
heretofore doubtful states of New York
and Indiana.
As to Dudley, the president SAID he
did not believe he did anything to injure
the ticket, but his influence had rather
been of a negative character. Practic-
ally, the president admitted that Colonel
DudloyIs influence in Indiana had been
used, if not to knife the ticket. to keep
his friends from working for 1T. In clos.
ing the interview the president said that
while some mistakes might have been
made. it was quite evident to any man
that nothing could withstand the peoples
uprising against the protective policy to
which the republican party stood pledged
by the Mckinley law.