The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-06-14
NO. A!
War on Babcock.


AS was predicted several months
ago the protected interests have de-
clared war on Congressman Bah
cock, Of Wisconsin, because he ad.
vocates the repeal Of the tariff duties
on trust controlled products, and a
reduction Of the rates on all manu-
factured articles which are being
sold abroad cheaper than at home.
The first shot fred at Mr.. Babcock
comes from the official organ of the
American Protective Tariff League
which gives away the plan of the
fight that is to be made against him.
He is denounced as traitor to the
republican party, and compared to
Benedict Arnold. The protected
interests intend when congress meets
next December to have him omitted,
If possible, as a member Of the
house committee on ways and
means, to have him deposed az
chairman OF the republican con-
gressional committee, and to defeat
him for reelection in 1902. They
also threaten to fight every repub-
lican who gives him any assistance
in the house,
Now that the American Protective
Tariff League has declared war on
Mr.. Babcock it remains to be seen
whether he has sufficient backbone
to accept the challenge to battle.
His friends claim that he has the
courage of his convictions and can
not be made to retreat from the po-
sition he has taken by the threats o.
the high protectionists. However,
this is matter we shall know more
about when congress meets. Ar
rayed against him will be nearly all
of the powerful corporations fostered
by the tariff and supported by the
Eastern leaders of the republican
party. On the other hand, if there
is no weakening between now and
December, Mr.. Babcock will have
with him majority Of republican
congressman from the western states
who heartily favor the bill he intro
duced at the last session for the re-
peal OF the duties on iron and steel
products controlled by the Ameri-
can Steel company, which can be
made in this country much cneap,r
than they can BE- produced in Eu-
ropean countries. 1t is said that
Speaker Henderson also favors Mr..
Babcock's bill, because the pro.
ducing classes'in the West are prac
ticallv unit in demanding the re-
duction of the tariff duties which
are no longer needed for The pur-
pose Of protection to numerous in
dustries, and he believes that if the
demand is ignored the republican
party will stand convicted before the
American people as the servant OF
the trusts and encounter disastrous
defeat in the elections Of 1902 and
1904.
If it be true, as reported, that
Speaker Henderson will support
Congressman Babcock in the fight
for tariff reduction the next session
Of congress will witness fierce
factional fight in TIE republican
party and one that may result in
serious split in the organization and
precipitate quarrel difficult to set
tie. If Congressman Babcock has
the following claimed for him the
democrats will hold the balance Of
power in the house, and the chances
are his bill revising the Dingley tar
iff will be passed by that bofy.
This does not mean, howe yer, that
there will be any tariff legislation
during the session, because no meas
ure inimical to the interests of the
trusts viii ever get through the sen.
ate, for there their friends, under
the leadership Of Marcus Alonz,
Hanna are strongly entrenched. A
hot republican fight over the reduc-
ton of the Dingley duties, however,
will serve to emphasize the trust
and tariff question as an issue in
the next presidential campaign, and
the democratic party, if united un-
der wise leadership, will profit by
it. The friends Of the trusts in
congress are well aware Of this fact,
hence the effort Of the American
Tariff League to intimi-
late and whip Mr.. Babe ck and his
into line. Evansville
Courier.
uWhaf did Won say To the LAWYER