The San Francisco call., 1896-07-25
An Overture to the Republicans
to Modify Their Tariff
Programme.
AND TAKE IN GOLD DEMOCRATS
A Suggestion That Protection Be
Sacrificed in the Interest of
Sound Money.

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 24-At
both the political headquarters in this city
earnest attention of politicians was at
tracted to-day to the interview with Will
liam G. Whitney. The same interpreta-
ton was put upon the interview by all
who discussed it, whether Republican or
Democrat, that Mr.. Whitney has made
plea to the Republicans to render it pos
sible for the gold Democrats of the East
and North to come into the Republican
camp this fall for the purpose of voting
for the gold standard and aiding in killing
free silver. 1t was agreed that the inter-
view virtually amounted to Mr.. Whitney
asking the Republicans to modify their at
titude upon public questions-presumab
the tariff lssue-to point which would be
possible for Democrats to accept.
By some Democrats it was taken to
mean that Mr.. Whitney believes the con-
servative men of his party in the East are
already in frame of mind to take some
what advanced position upon the tariff
question over their Western colleagues
with free-trade inclinations.
In proof of this assestion they cite the
fight which was made in the Senate on
the Wilson bill by Eastern Democratic
Senators holding out as they did for higher
rates of duty in certain cases than the
House proposed. 1t is claimed that East
ern Democrats are ready TO go still fur
ther in the direction of higher tariff
duties in order to be able to take q DO
sition upon the financial question if the
Republicans will but show a spirit of
friendliness and abate in some degree
their adherence to the extreme views they
are supposed to entertain upon the tariff.
1t is explained that the Democrats can
not, even for the sake of sound money. go
the whole length of the proposed Repub-
iican tariff programme, but if the Repub-
licans are willing to moderate their plans
common ground may be found upon which
the Democrats can assemble with them.
In political circles here, from the ex-
pressions already current upon the sub
ject, il is evident that Mr.. Whitney's ap-
peal does not meet with favor in Republi-
can circles. The keynote to this feeling
was sounded by distinguished Repub-
lican. who in conversation with a CALL
correspondent said:
ssThe trouble is here: We consider q
protective tariff as the very bedrock of
prosperity in this country. 1t is this prin-
ciple that Mr.. Whitney asks us to COM
promise"
Continuing the argument it was held
that Mr.. Whitney was in measure incon-
sistent in his demands. He starts out
upon the basis that the highest patriotic
duty of the average American citizen now
is to stand firm for gold standard and all
it is claimed to represent. Yet the people
whom Mr.. Whitney represents, instead of
laying aside all scruples and attaching
themselves to the duty they point out, de-
mand that Republicans shall first recede
from loyalty to one of the original princi-
Piles of their party, in order to hold out
helping hand to assist gold Democrats to
perform duty they themselves realize de-
wolves upon them.
Of course it is realized at time when
there is prospect of the Democratic ticket