Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-04-04
M.klNLEYs POSITION.
Indications OF His Weakening His Pro-
lection Ideas.

Indications OF His Weakening On HIS Pro-
lection Ideas.
There seem to have been some queer
goings-on down at Townsville, Ga,
where Gov. Mckinley and other repub-
lican leaders have met lately in a sort
of informal caucus
If we are to judge by an interview of
Mr.. Joseph Medill, one of the partici-
pants in that caucus, the results war
rant this inquiry:
Does Gov. Mckinley, In his candi-
dature for the presidency. in addition
to trying to straddIe the silver ques-
ton. propose also to try to stradd1e the
tariff question?
To those familiar with Gov. McKin-
ley's record on the tariff this inquiry
doubtless seems ridiculous If there
has been one thing which was consid-
cred absolutely sure in current politics,
it was that Gov. Mckinley stood square
~ and uneompromisingly for extreme
protection as embodied in the tariff act
that bore his name.
Nevertheless, the conference at
Townsville appears to have fully sat
isfed the stanchest and most ag-
gressive opponent of the Mckinley act
IN she republican party that the gov
ernor is misunderstood on this point,
and that he is not the extreme pro-
tectionist his legislative record and his
campaign speeches have led US to be-
| ieve he is.
! Gov. Mckinley has never struck a
blow for ''McKinleyism" which has not
| been met by strong a blow from
| Mr.. Medill. The editor of the Tribune
fought McKinleyism relentlessly when
| it was being enacted into law by con-
gress, and afterward when it was be-
ing defended and lauded by the gov
ernor on the stump During the last
campaign, while the governor was
touring the country in the interest of
protection, Mr.. Medill's paper was in
cessant and terrific in its assaults upon
the Mckinley act. No stronger in
dictments of McKinleyisn have been
made in any quarter, whether demo-
cratic or republican, than those made
by the Chicago Tribune.
But this Thomasville symposium has
apparently satisfied Mr.. Medin that
| the Ohio governor has been misunder-
stood, for the editor makes the sudden
and decidedly unexpected announce
ment that his choice for the presidency
next year is no less person than Gov.
William Mckinley, of Ohio.
| Inc SusVOE Va GItO CuIc4 1CPuOA4SeIA
journal of the west and the most con-
spicuous champion Of tariff reform in
the republican party not only init
mates that he has been conci1iated by
the man who has been regarded as the
most extreme apostle of protection, but
that his platform will be virtually a
reputation of what has been known
as McKinleyism. The governors
weakness, Mr.. Medin says, is that ''he
will have to carry the responsibility Of
the tariff act of 1890, which cost the re-
publican party two disastrous defeats,
including loss of the presidency. In
consequence of these defeats before the
mass of republicans will permit him
to receive the nomination he will be
required to disavow any policy that
may lead to revision of the present
tariff in the direction of an increase in
duties
: But if Mckinley has weakened on
McKinleyism, where and what is the
solid ground left the republican party
to stand on?-Louisvi1le Courier-Jo our.
nal.