The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-06-19
Senator Represents Big Man
ufacturers of New England
BATTLE NEXT SESSION
Forecast of The Journal Is Being
Realized.
FORTHCOMING LINE OF CLEAVAGE
With Republican Division Demo
cracy VIII Make the Tariff
Next Campaign Issue.

From The journal Bureau. Room <5. Posi-
Building, Washington.
Washington, June 19.-In the Washing
ton Star Of last Saturday there was pub
lished the following significant news item
on the first page:
Senator Aldrich of Rhode Island, chairman
OF the committee on finance and the recog-
nlzed leader on the republican side in all
tarin and revenue affairs, slipped into Wash
ington and out again yesterday. During his
brief stay he saw other republican senators
and some officials of the government and
discussed an important subject Senator
Aldrich has started campaign against reci-
procity, aimed primarily at Cuba, but to
take cognizance also of other reciprocal com
mercial arrangements now pending. 1t is un-
derstood that the senator sent a strong appeal
TO the president against considering reciproc-
ity propositions favorably, and earnestly
urged him TO proceed with great caution in
that direction. 1t is also understood that
the interests Senator Aldrich is advocating
the manufacturers who are now doing busi-
ness under high tariff, propose Immediately
10 work up sentiment against reciprocity and
begin a propaganda similar to the movement
now in operation in favor of reciprocity. 1t
is said that the favorable sentiment has been
worked up largely by the manufacturers of
agricultural. machinery and Implements who
would be the greatest gamers, it is claimed,
under reciprocity.
AIdrieh Special Agent.
A little investigation reveals that Sen
ator Aldrich came to Washington as the
representative of the big manufacturers of
New England, who are strongly opposed
to reciprocity treaties, saying that rec
iprocity is only another name for tariff
reduction and that the condition of the
country does not demand any changes in
the Dingley law. Obviously, these New
Englanders are actuated by purely selfish
motives. fearing that the proposed
treaties will interfere with their foreign
trade; but that does not alter the fact
that they exert great influence within the
republican party, and may be depended
on next winter to line up the New Eng
land senator's, who are influential to
degree entirely out of keeping with their
number, in opposition to tariff reduction,
whether attempted through the medium
of the Babcock bill, or the ratification of
reciprocity treaties. Already it is claimed
in Washington that Senator Aldrich has
had conferences with the other senators
from New England, and that they are in
entire accord with him. The protection
organizations of that country are also
understood TO have served notice on these
senators that there must be no tariff
tinkering next winter.
The West Against the East.
The statements made in the foregoing
paragraph are in complete harmony with
an article published recently in this COL
umn, stating that if an attempt should
be made in congress next winter to Sc
cure tariff legislation, the New England
members in both houses would present a
solid front against the proposition, the
middle west, embracing the whole Missis-
sippi valley, favoring it. The debates will
show line of cleavage very similar to
that which was brought about by the Nc
Kinley bill. The New Englanders in con-
gress favored that bill to a man; while
the middle west was divided in sentiment
a majority of the people in that section
and at heart a majority of the members
of both houses, opposing it more or less
openly. Conditions are now to be re-
versed. New England will stand unitedly
in favor of maintaining the high duties
OF the Dingley law, which reiterates the
essential features of the old Mckinley
law; while the interior states, engaged
largely in agriculture will favor their
modifcatiOn-at least, to the extent of
removing the tariff from trust-made goods.
Ihere Is also much sentiment in the mid
die west in favor of reciprocity.
WIN 4NCN A1ASlduus NEW rP6QQ-
sylvania, New Jersey and Delaware op-
posed to Babcockism and reciprocity, and
the rest of the states of the north as far
west as the Rocky mountains in their
favor, most interesting session Of con-
gress may be looked for Should the re-
publican party be divided against itself
on these questions, as now seems very
possible, the democrats will have little
difficulty in making the tariff the issue of
the next campaign, (the administration s
foreign policy continuing to meet with
popular approvaD, and events may shape
themselves for a partial repetition in the
of year of 1902 of the catastrophe which
overlook the republican party in 1892. A
ccLservatiyely worded democratic plat
form, calling for reciprocity and tariff re-
duction would, in 1902, command a large
number of republican votes in the close
states OF the north.
Warns the President
Senator Aldrich is a very cautious man.
The fact that he came all the way to
Washington to warn the president against