The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1895-10-05
A sHREWp DEAL
Us Clearly Responsible For tho Tariff
Redivivus Speeches at Springfield.

Us Clearly Responsible For tho Tariff
Redivivus Speeches at Springfield.
When, at tho Springfield meeting
Senator Sherman, Governor Mckinley,
]. B. Foraker and Asa S. Bushnell, de-
clared that is the settled policy of the
Republican party to plunge the country
into a commercial industrial and finan-
cial maelstrom by re-enacting the Nc
Kinley law with more odious and de-
structive protective" provisions than
were contained in the original, and an
nounced that Republican victory in
Ohio in November will be the opening
gun of the battle against restored ma
tional prosperity, they probably did not
calculate upon the effect Of their own
clearly defined threats.
Business men, merchants, manufact-
urers, wage earners and agriculturalists,
of all shades of political opinion were
not only amazed but dumbfounded, that
such a series of apparently concerted
threats should be made as the opening
slogans of state political campaign.
Solid business men, who all along
have acted with the Republican party,
and contributed materially to its CAM
paign funds, did not hesitate to pro-
nounce it n mistake, involving well nigh
fatal party consequences. They are
anxious enough to see their party sac
ceed, as party, on proper lines Of pub
lie policy, but they are neither anxious
nor willing to aid in party success
which necessarily brings with it the
overthrow and prostration of the entire
fabric Of legitimate business, and the
conversion of the whole ocean Of our
national commerce into pool of stag
nation.
"How came such blunder to be
committed" "What influence prompt
ed its commission?" These we're the
pointed questions which arose with
thoughtful Republicans. They knew
that large element Of their party had
made up their minds against any imme-
diate tariff tinkering, especially when
r0litical ambition and political promo
Ton called for it, at the expense Of all
the best interests of the people.
But the answer is not hard to reason
candidate for the presidential nomina-
ton. Ex-Governor j. b. Foraker is n
candidate'for the United States senate.
Foraker is only negatively necessary to
Mckinley, and that only in so far as
solid delegation from Ohio is concerned.
On the other hand, Mckinley is abso-
lutely necessary to Foraker, who can
without hin, A
few weeks ago Chairman Charles l..
Kurtz, Foraker's alter ego, went to
Pennsylvania and had long consulta-
tion with Matthew s. Quay, the boss of
that state. Previous to this Foraker
had,never uttered word commendatory
Of the Mckinley law, but had made re-
peated thrusts at it.
Mr.. Quay enlightened Mr., Kurtz as
to the best method Of making Governor
Mckinley do Foraker great service.
The thing necessary was to make the re-
storation of the Mckinley law an issue
in Ohio. This would bring to Foraker's
support the entire Mckinley Sherman
element, and Republican legislature
and Foraker 5 election would be the re-
suit. The sequel, not unknown in poll
tics, would follow.
The shrewd Pennsylvanian's tactics
were carried out at Springfield. Foraker
and Bushnell, pronounced opponents of
BIcKinley's presidential aspirations, and
equally pronounced opponents of the
Mckinley tariff law, became sudden
converts to the tariff gospel they had 80
heartily derided in tho past, and "tarif
tinkering" was proclaimed as the lead
ing issue in state campaign.
The men who engineered this thing
calculated that by thus securing the
earnest cooperation of Mckinley and
Sherman, in the pioneer slSi1nish OF
tariff tinkering, the ambitions Of Fora
ker would be realized by the choice of
Republican, Legislature.
After that the sequel and the flood.
"Tariff tinkering" as an issue might
possibly secure Republican legislature
in Ohio, but the preponderating ele-
mept of the Republican party in the
country at large would not permit it to
enter into the campaign of 1895, and
then j. b. Foraker could repay Quay by
swinging tho Ohio delegation away
from Mckinley to Thomas B.. Reed, of
Maine, whose opposition to the restora-
ton of the Mckinley law, is cordially
shared by Foraker, Bushnell and all the
leaders Of their element in the Repub-
lican party in Ohio.
The threatening keynote at Spring
field may, therefore, be safely set down
as the outcome os deal, the evil char
acter and intention of which was un-
known both to Mckinley and Sherman.
Foraker and Kurtz may not be very
able schemers, and then again they may
be. With Quay to coach them, they
are clearly too much for Mckinley and
sherman, when it comes to setting up a
plausible job the usafruct Of which is to
inure TO J.. b. Foraker, with the con-
tingent remainder to L. b. Reed.