The Van Buren press., 1896-12-12
TROUBLE FOR REPUBLICANS.
Manufacturers Desire a Radical Tariff
Measure and the Xesf Protests.

OF the Republicans regarding III,
Dingley bill can be pretty adequatel,
gauged by this time. They intend t
demagogue with it during the shor
session of congress. but have no inten-
ton of passing it. This does not meal
that the Republicans could pass the
Dingley bill if they tried. but they have
no intention of seriously trying. They
regard it as inadequate; look upon it al
a lunch rather than feast and. il
view of their victory On the Sd Of
November, nothing short of feast viii
satisfy them.
| The Republicans, however, are
beginning to anticipate trouble from the
business interests During the late
campaign our Republican friends
worked the business interests for all
/ they were worth. Now, however, they
are discovering that the interests OF
+ business men sometimes conflict. A
very large portion of the business
element in the United States is opposed
to continual disturbance of the tariff
| Furthermore, they are opposed to a
high tariff, such as the Republican
party under Mckinley s leadership is
committed to. If the Dingley bill
should be passed during the ensuing
session Of congress it would furnish a
very potent reason why the tariff ques-
ton should not be reopened by the next
congress- This Is the reason why the
Republicans do not intend to pass the
Dingley bill. Even If the Democrats
should lay down their arms and invite
the Republicans of the senate to put the
Dingley measure through the senate
without debate the Republican leaders
would decline the offer.
But, Dingley bill or no Dingley bill
and You can rely upon it. it will be no
Dingley bill-the Republicans are going
to have trouble with their tariff bill IN
the next congress. The Western Re
publicans are already declaring that
there can be no repetition of the Nc
Kinley bill of 1890. Nothing less than
this will soothe the Eastern manu-
facturers-that is TO say, the manu-
facturers Of the Pennsylvania school,
who are always the directors of tariff
agitation when the Republicans are in
control. Republicans of the mercantile
and banking classes, while protesting to
be theoretical protectionists are OPP
posed to the kind of protection that
Mckinley and Hanna and the Pennsyl-
vania school regard as the acme of
craftsmanship.
Here is where the trouble will begin.
There are already indications of
coming storm, and this is the reason
why Mckinley and his advisers have
made up their minds to have an extra
session. in order to have plenty of time
to put their tariff bill through, over the
protests of the mercantile element of
the party. The wooden and cotton
manufacturers of New England seem to
be very well satisfied with the existing
tariff They are about ready to join
with the mercantile element in oppo.
sition TO a general tariff bill laid out ON
Mckinley lines. Western Republicans,
like Allison, Gear and Cannon, are
we'll aware that tariff invented solely
for the purpose of enriching manu-
facturers is not popular in the West.
They have a very vivid recollection of
the popular revolt against McKinleyism
in 1890 and 1892, and they are quietly
but firmly serving notice upon Nc
Rinley confdants that they cannot be
relied upon to accept a tariff bill
blindly next year, as they did six years
ago.
Reports have been in circulation here
for week that the official head of our
consul general at Paris is hanging in the
balance. No complaint is made against
the official integrity, ability or qualifi-
cations of Mr.. Samuel Morse, the
consul general, nor can he be personally
accused of being perniciously active
offensive partisan. Personally, it is
said. he took no part in the late
campaign. He is, however, the owner
of the indianapolis Sentinel, the leading
Democratic newspaper of Indiana. The
paper, controlled by Mr.. Morse and
edited, presumably, to suit his views,
very cordially supported the Chicago
ticket and platform during the late
campaign, and this is what has given
offense to the administration and placed
in danger the official head of the consul
general at Paris. There is report
here that Mr.. Morse has been invited to
resign, and this report is backed up by
another that if the resignation is not
forthcoming promptly he will be re-
moved. 1t is said that there has been
cable correspondence between Mr.
Morse and some of his friends in this
country, and that Morse has been
advised not to resign under any
circumstances, as his dismissal from
office, under the circumstances, would
have neither faint nor stain.
CLEVELAND, O. Dec. 5.-An intimate
friend of Chairman Hanna of the
national Republican committee said
today:
Mr.. Hanna is emphatically opposed
to the Dingley bill. He considers it a
makeshift and cannot tolerate it. He
believes that it was framed merely to
secure endorsement from Democratic
congress and a Democratic president
and not as Republican tariff measure.
He regards it as nothing more than a
sort of small improvement of the Wilson
bill.
What does Mr.. Hanna favor in the
way of legislation was asked.
He desires special session of
congress, and he hopes the tariff ques-
tion will then be brought up and
dealt with.