Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-17
Democratic Leaders Expect Repub-
lican Division on It.
FEELING IN TIE EAST and west
The Latter Wants the Duty on
Wool Restored.
A HOPE OF THE DEMOCRACY

Several democratic leaders are firmly of
the opinion that the next Congress will
witness a serious division in the republican
ranks on the tariff question. That the
question must be taken up and dealt with
in some form Is contended for. first. be-
cause additional revenue will have to he
provided, end, second, because both the
west and the northwest are so greatly dis
satisfied with the law as 1t now stands.
And once the proposition comes up for &C.
ton. nothing. 1t is asserted. can then pre-
vent a full airing of all the republican
grievances and complaints.
Disagreement in the Last Congress.
1t Is pointed out. as matter of fact
that the republicans were much at logger
heads on the subject during the last Cen
gress. Some evidences Of this came cut
openly in the debates. When the Wilson
bill was under discussion in the Senate the
western republicans looked askance at
some OF the maneuvering. Indeed. they
charged that certain schedules of interest
to their section were being neglected, while
the schedules Of vital interest to New Eng
land were being most carefully adjusted.
Days were consumed without result in dis
cussing items apparently trivial, but when
the cotton and woolen schedules were
reached-schedules in which New England
took intense concern-they were permitted
time. The republican leaders. Mr.. Aldrich
in supreme command, seemed, the west
erners complained to be seized with a
spirit of conservatism at this stage Of the
which up to that time they had conducted
the battle.
Feeling of Western Men.
But great as the dissatisfaction was, the
occasion was not propitious for factional
graphing. The western republicans had no
immediate recourse. The common enemy
was in the field before them, and demand
ed their attention. They are now speak
ing of redress. Interests that were attack
ed and not properly protected then must
now they say, be considered. The policy
of protection by the party Of protection
must be fairly and impartially applied.
The western men insist that the east does
not merit and must not longer enjoy any
favors in that line that have been denied
to their section. They do not themselves
propose any Determinations against the
east. If New England is satisfied with the
GormanWilson law as 1t applies to her
industries. well and good. But speaking
for themselves and for their people. they
have to say that the law discriminates
against the west and they insist that 1t
must be amended to that extent.
Expectations of Democratic Leaders.
The democratic leaders are expecting the
eastern republicans to take strong ground
against any real revision Of the tariff by
the next Congress at all. They have reason
to believe that, as the western republicans
charge, the business interests Of the east
were not hard hit by the Gorman-Wilson
law, and that those interests do not desire
the law changed The east 1t is contended.
has adjusted it's business to the new order
OF things, and would be the loser by re-
opening Of the question at this time. And
especially Is this insisted on in the light Of
some Of the changes the western men are
already suggesting. The western men want
the duty restored on wool. The eastern
men DO not. The western men would vote
for an increase In the duty on coal and
iron ore to the old figure. The eastern men
would have to do SO, too, but they would
prefer not to be called upon to consider the
question. And 50 1t goes.
Question of Free Raw Materials.
The democratic hope is that in some way
the eastern republicans may be pinned
down on the question of free raw materials.
the contention being that as respects that
matter the manufacturers Of the east, re-
gardless Of parties, are as one. And II the
tariff question assumes any Importance at
all in the next Congress the realization OF
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