Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-13
HEADQUARTERS QUESTION
Interesting Meeting of the Republican
Congressional Committee.
Some Free Expressions of Opinions by
the Members Present-COHtinued
Until the 18th of March.

There was very interesting meeting Of
the republican congressional committee to-
day. The object of the meeting was to
determine whether or not they should es-
tablish permanent headquarters in Wash
ington. This question naturally involved
considerably more than the mere matter
of having a headquarters. AS is publicly
known, there is difference of opinion in
the committee as to the scope of the policy
of protection. All the members of the COM
mittee, as all other republicans, are pro-
tectionists, but with some this means the
most radical high protection, which is now
commonly called McKinleyism, while
others are in favor of milder form Of
protection. believing it desirable to have
no higher duties than are necessary to
furnish fair, moderate protection.
The criticism has been passed upon Mr.
Babcock that in his management or tho
affairs of the committee and his pubic eX-
pressions he has rather disavowed the very
extreme protection of Mckinley and has
favored a more modified form. In TINS
question are involved the possibilities OF
the presidential nomination, many VINO
look with disfavor upon Mckinleys am
bition in that line desiring to drift away
from McKinleyism in the tariff.
The Tariff Question Discussed.
At a meeting of the committee today the
proposition for the committee to continue
it's work brought out a discussion OF the
tariff question. The extreme protectionlsts,
such Bouteile, were opposed to any
proposition to continue the campaign
which they regarded as defunct, immediate
ly after the election was over. 1t was
freely stated by them to be no part
OF the function of the congressional com
mttee to map out a policy for the party
or to conduct kindergarten to inculcate
any particular doctrine. 1t was held that
their function was to conduct the cam
paign in general way, and that at the
close of the campaign their work was done.
On the other hand, the trans Mississippi
members of the committee advocated the
continuance OF the committee. approving
the positions taken by MIR. Boutelle and
advising the continuance of the educationar
work through sending out documents, etc,
which was conducted by him during the
campaign. One member. Mr.. Flynn Of
Oklahoma, made very frank and direct
speech on the subject, protesting openly
the antagonism to McKinleyism which. on
the part of the others. was more implied
than expressed. He said that his people,
while protectionists, did not believe in pro-
hibitory duties, and that McKinleyism in
his section was extremely unpopular.
The Western Contingent.
Senator Carey, Senator Bower and Rep
| resentatives Wilson and Barthold also
spoke for the western contingent, but all
CT them sought to avoid any direct con-
fict as to the degree of protection, while
actually advocating more modified pro-
tection than represented by the Mckinley
bill. Senator Carey was the principal adj
vocate of the western men, who wanted
| TO continue the committee, but he was
! conservative in his expressions.
Mr. Boutele of Maine was the leading
| opponent to any continuance of the work of
the committee, which he held openly to be
| finished. He and Mr.. Barthold both said
that If McKinleyism was to be objected to
| 1t could not De attributed to Mr.. Mckinley
| more than to Mr.. Reed, and that the policy
represented by the Mckinley bill was as
much Reedism as McKinleyism, Reed being
! Speaker of the House and having as much
control over the policy, if not more than
! had Mr.. Mckinley, as chairman of The
! ways and means committee.
Mr. Boutele would not tolerate however.
| that there was any reproach in the term
| McKinleyism. In fact, the only one who
| directly used the expression as a term Of
| reproach was Mr.. Flynn. AS result of
| the discussion the committee instead of
| being established in permanent headquar-
| ters, had it's life and it's work extended
| over the period between now and the 18th
! of March. There was a very small at
| tendance at the meeting, less than Cne-
| half Of the members being present.