The San Francisco call., 1901-10-08

D EPORTS from Boston are to the effect that
ET the New England Free Trade League is
about to enter upon campaign of agita
ton against the tariff and will prosecute it with
greater vigor than for many years past 1t is an
nounced that at the meeting of the league the
increased comprehensiveness of its membership and
its work will be marked by dropping New England
from the title and starting the new agitation The
American Free Trade League.
The reports state that all members who have been
consulted favor the proposed change of title. The
league has members in thirty-sx States and upward
of 40 per cent of them reside outside New England.
1t is believed the national title will attract additional
members and will moreover make the league
popular with the masses. Arrangements have been
made for the publication every week OF articles in
favor of flee trade, ard among the writers will be
professors at some of the greater universities OF the
country. The articles to appear in newspapers
in all parts of the Union, and consequently the
effects Of the agitation will be felt to greater
less degree among all classes Of the people.
An attack of the kind proposed is likely to prove
d matter OF serious concern to the country. The
Democratic party, without leader and without
PLATFORM will doubtless be quite willing to swing into
line with the Free Trade League and give the move
ment all the assistance that strong though dis
credited political machine can render. Several of
the FOREMOST democratic papers nave, III 1dCt
already spoken of the advisability of revivng the
fight against protection of reuniting the
party The campaign of the Free Trade League
must therefore be looked upon something more
than mere academic discussion Unless the move
ment be vigorously combated from the start we
may yet have another period of industrial disturbance
caused by subjecting Our fiscal system anew to the
turmoil of party strife, and all the evils of the old
agitation will return to plague
1t is to be noted that the league will not attack the
protective system directly The former agitation
conducted under the specious title tariff REFORM "
and the new campaign is to be waged by similar
tactics. The Boston correspondent OF the Spring
field Republican says the special subjects which the
league proposes consider in the coming season are
the tariff in the tropics and reciprocity especially
with Canada. 1t is believed that considerable
number OF Republicans can be brought TO favor
reciprocity and that by their aid and that of the
Democrats it will be possible wear away many Of
the protective features of the present tariff and so
bring about divisions in the Republican party itself
1t is but short time since we had ample experience
OF the results of ntrutng free trade doctrnares and
! Democratic politicians with the work of framing
| tariff That experience can hardly have been for
gotten by the people, that the chances of
for free trade movement at this time slight but
none the less the agitation may prove danger
Gus. Reciprocity defined by Republican platforms
! is wise policy but unless the people are watchful
| it will not be easy to confne reciprocity that
definition Several of the so-called reciprocity
treaties now before the Senate threaten of the
greatest interests of California and should ones
be arranged they might be as dangerous, Once more
then the people must rally for the defense of Aneri-
industry. Its foes again the warpath