The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-09
TWO Tnrin Policies.


It is apparent that the republicans are
divided as to the kind of tariff legislation
that should be undertaken. The repubi-
can senators and representatives who
have visited Mr.. Mckinley at Canton say
there should be a thorough revision Of the
tariff and that an extra session of con-
gress should be called next spring to do
the work It is. therefore. assumed that
Mr.. Mckinley favors an extra session, and
that he wants a tariff law which would be
in harmony with the tariff doctrines of
the republican party.
Mr. Reed, 1t is understood, thinks the
Dingley bill should be taken up at once
and passed. He believes that that bill
would provide all the revenue needed, and
that an extra session of congress and a
high protection bill would be unpopular.
There is no doubt that the view enter
tanned by Mr.. Reed is practically the same
as that held by the business men Of the
country. They are putting themselves on
record as being against an extra session
and against a high protective tariff.
The question which presents itself Is this:
Has Mr.. Reed made up his mind to antag-
onize the administration? There is no
doubt that t-ere is great opposition among
business men to any tariff agitation. They
say that the silver agitation and the cleo
ton practically destroyed their fall bust
ness, and they believe that if the tariff
question should be opened they would lose
a great deal of their winter and spring
trade.
If Mr.. Reed opposes an extra session,
and it is believed he does, 1t is because he
thinks the best interests of the country
demand freedom from tariff agitation and
not because he wants to antagonize Mr.
McKinley's administration. While it may
be true that he has no great admiration
for MIR. Mckinley he is too big a man to
permit personal feeling to influence his
action In matters which concern the well
fare of the whole people If he becomes
satisfied that an extra session is opposed
by business men generally because they
want a period of rest from politics and the
discussion of political questions, and be-
cause such a discussion would hinder pros
perity he will not hesitate to oppose Mr..
Mckinley and his administration. He
might not succeed in having the policy he
favors adopted, but the fact that his par
ty- associates were against him would not
deter him from doing what he believed to
be right.
There is this to be said in favor of Mr..
Reeds position: If the Dingley bill should
be adopted the country would have per-
iod Of rest from political agitation. Bust
ness men would know that the tariff ques-
ton was settled for time at least, and
they would go ahead with their plans for
investment and for establishing industrial
enterprises. If the Dingley bill should be
defeated and an extra session called the
doubt about the tariff would be a damper
on all sorts of business. 1t is experience
that nothing as a rule is done in an extra
session, and it is pretty certain that If an
extra session were called no tariff
bill would be passed. The tariff
would be discussed and the set
Element of it would be permit
ted to 60 over to the regular session. 1t
might drag through the whole of that
session and become an Issue in the next
congressional campaign.
IT is to be hoped Mr.. Reed will antagonize
the administration of Mr.. Mckinley if it
is the latter's purpose to keep the country
disturbed by efforts to have high pro-
tective tariff adopted.