Arizona republican., 1901-11-08
THE TARIFF CAUTION
Presidents Message to Urge
 Conservatism
MT. Roosevelt Has Reached New Con clusions and Will Not Attempt Immediately Policy of Reduced Tariffs by Treaty.

Washington. Nov. Not even Pres idcnt Roosevelt himself could say deG- nitely at this time exactly what his message to congress in December will contain on the subject of reciprocity. His attitude has not yet been put into language. but the limits of his recom- mendations are steadily being fixed in his own mind-and as steadily being narrowed.
 In other words, the president is by. no means so much impressed with the necessity for the prompt application of the reciprocity policy to our trade with the world as he was when he first en- tered the White House as chief magis- trate of the nation. Then the press and people were full of his predeces- sor's last public utterances. and his own sense of loyalty to his fallen chiefs policies quickened his impulse to achieve some definite result. It is no reflection upon President Roosevelt that he has modified his first impressions in the brief period of his chief magistraacy. It has been brief only in time-not in experience or deeper knowledge. The president has been wise enough to take counsel of those best qualified to lay before him the facts of the present and the possi- bilities of the future. and he has come to realize far more clearly than he ev.=- dld before what an intricate, complex and dangerous problem reciprocity is.
 He sees the infinite harm that might come to our home industries by nasty or unwise steps. not easily retraced, and ..e has learned that President Mc- Kinley's purposes. had he lived to carry them out. would have been far removed from the free trade interpre- tat of R,re efaln
 The president believes in reciprocity. and he will earnestly strive to make it one of the features of his administra- tion; but he is not going to undertake at once the burden of discovering, in the language of his predecessors last speech, If. perchance, some of our tariffs are no longer needed for revenue or to encourage and protect our indus tries at nome."
 That uncharted sea will be sailed over by the president in due time, but with the caution that he should prop erly exercise where such vital home in terests are concerned.
 As stated at the beginning of this IspstclI, not even President Roose- welt knows now the words with which he will express himself to congress. but there is no doubt that his attitude is fairly outlined above. He will not recommend the ratification of the pend ing Kasson treaties, and he will not approve any of the various senatorial plans for establishing trade treaties. He will, however, heartily indorse reef procity as a national policy and will undoubtedly cite his predecessors atti- tude on the subject.
 Four republican members of the house ways and means committee Messrs. Payne, Russell, Grosvenor and Steele, were at the White house today in conference with the president They were reticent regarding the interview. It was learned, however. that the presi- dent discussed with them some features of his forthcoming message which will relate to the revenue and tariff.
 Many republican members of the ways and means committee have all ready expressed themselves as opposed to any revision of the tariff at the com ing session of congress. General Grosvenor told the president that he regarded the result in Ohio as approv- ing the present and past republican policies, and the present tariff espe- cially.