Evening star., 1901-09-23
RECIPROCITY PLAN
Economic Policy Announced in Nc
Kinley's Last Speech.
A CABINET OFFICERS VIEWS
President Roosevelt to Follow in
His Predecessors Line.
PRESSURE ON CONGRESS
PRESSURE ON CONGRESS

Before President Mckinley delivered his
notable speech in Buffalo, in which he an
| nounced his espousal of the cause Of reci-
! procity the coming economic policy OF
1 this governmen ent he talked the, subject over
! with his cabinet earnestly and thoroughly.
/ His deliverance therefore was deliberate
and well considered. 1t was in a measure
| of a somewhat general character dealing
with the question in it's larger sense, the
details to be worked out later.
| The members of the cabinet are remem-
| bering his talks with them upon that line
| and treasuring them for their future guild
| ance in dealing with the important and ex-
| tremely delicate question of reciprocity.
One member of the cabinet who took much
| interest in the Presidents plans, gives a
| very interesting and very important elab-
Grafton of the subject, representing Mr..
| McKinleys views at that time. According
| to this official the Presidents ideas could
| be stated about as follows:
Reciprocal Trade Arrangements.
| That Mr.. Mckinley believed the senti-
ment of the country was setting in the di-
| rection of revision of the tariff. Indeed
| that revision was inevitable, and he
| tnOuSnt the pest way. TO meet tne OeHlaIlu
| to be through reciprocity, by which we
could get something back for our revision
| In other words, instead Of making a
| straight cut in the tariff, to trade Off the
revision for a compensation through rec1p-
rocal trade arrangements.
| President Mckinley, 1t Is said, had be-
come very much impressed by the argu-
ments of the western men in Congress that
the people were demanding tariff revision
| on those lines Of manufactures that were
being made in this country and sold In for
| eign lands cheaper than at home. He also
| saw a continuance of the existing prosper
| lations, and all Of this was visible through
| the opening door Of reciprocity.
The President realized, it Is said, the
great difficulty attending the proposition
to even set this door ajar. He was thor
oughly aware of the difficulties that had
| confronted the efforts for reciprocity in the
last Congress and knew the source and
| cause Of each obstruction placed In the
way. He believed, however that the ex-
perience that was gained last year would
| serve next time to make the effort easier.
1t was his idea that the conflicting inter-
ests could be compromised and opposition
placated by discussion of the subject, even
| If a campaign OF education were necessary.
| AS the recognized apostle of an economic
policy that had enriched the people, he had
faith in his ability to convince the people
of the necessity for variations in the policy
to meet the changing conditions of the
times.
Roosevelt Believes In Reciprocity.
President Roosevelt has announced his
intention to carry out the policies Of his
predecessor, and that pledge includes, OF
course. his adoption Of reciprocity. Prior
to that. however, Mr.. Roosevelt had de-
ciple OF reciprocity.
There is great curiosity in congressional
circles. where the tariff question is already
looming up as one Of the probable big is
E11e of coming session WI "a
President Roosevelt will recommend, and
how he will suggest carrying out the reci-
procity plan. 1t is assumed that he will
take the advice Of the old tariff bill max
ers In Congress before he plunges into the
subject. Indeed 1t is said he has already
intimated his intention to pursue a con-
servative course in this direction.
Whatever the President recommends, one
thing is assured; II any reciprocity treaties
are framed, the work is to be done under
the supervision and with the consent of
the men who have made the tariff bills for
the republican party, and who are still in
Congress.
In the last Congress the treaties pro-
posed for ratification were made up in a
large mes sure it Is understood, without full
and free consultation with the tariff-mak-
ers Of the House and Senate. When the
treaties were maze public there was an i'm
mediate rush OF the industries considering
themselves menaced to their Senators and
Representatives to protest against the pre-
posed reductions In tariff.
Interests That Protested.
The wool growers. whose industry has
been immeasuraby stimulated under the
Dingley bill, protested against the Argen-
tine treaty which proposed a reduction on
Argentine wool. although great favors were
granted American agricultural machinery
and other products going into the Argen-
tine Republic. The French treaty stirred
up the knit goods manufacturers, the
makers Of cheap jewelry and bric-a-brac,
the glove makers of New York. some
branches of the glass industry, and all of
these branded together were powerful
enough to prevent the ratification Of the
treaties.
The position of the opposing senators
was, that while they did not object to re-
ciprocity as a policy, it's application should
be made with great care. SO as not to dis
turb the protected industries Of this coun-
try. They felt that the time was not pro-
pitious for an effort on their part to
cast the treaties 1t now remains to be
seen whether there Will be a sufficient
sentiment in the Senate strong enough to
bring about an effort to build up some
treaties of reciprocity in accordance with
the senatorial ideas thus expressed
Pressure From the West.
From the west will come renewed press
ure for tariff revision; that is certain. The
exponents of Mr.. McKinley's plans will
urge the accomplishment of revision
through reciprocity. From the east, large
ly from New England, will come protests in
behalf of various industries likely to be
affected by reciprocal arrangements with
foreign countries.
The Senate will have to compose these
varying and in many cases conflicting in
terests. In the meantime, 1t is considered
likely that the House will take a part In
the proceedings, the western element in
Producing bills proposing reductions in
some of the tariff schedules The high pro-
tectionists are in the majority Of the re-
publican membership OF the ways and
means committee, however, and it is not
considered probable that the other faction
will enlist the aid of the democrats.
In fact, the great cry OF the revisionists
Is, Let us revise the tariff according to re-
publican principles and not wait until
forced to do it along free trade lines"