The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-05-20
Forecast of the Policy to Be
Pursued by Republicans.
SENATOR CULLOM BUSY
Putting In His Vacation in Study
of the,ReciprOcity Question.
OUR MANUFACTURES ABROAD
Inquiry Instigated by a Minnesota
COnGressman and What
May Come of 1t.

From The .To.tr9saI Bure0st, ROOBs 49, Pod
Building Washington.
Washington, May 2O.-With the growing
probability that the tariff will be dis
cussed in the next congress, either
through the Babcock proposition to take
the duty off trust articles, or through q
general bill aimed at the trusts as g
whole, there is an increasing interest in
tariff questions generally, for it is be-
neved that if congress takes up the ques-
tion in a serious way, the issue for the
next campaign will at once be made. Sen
ator Cullom's announced intention of re-
naming in Washington practically all
summer and fall in order that he may
study the question Of reciprocity treaties
at close range is suggestive of one way
in which the republican party may under
take to meet the threatened demand for
tariff reduction.
Senator Cullom is very close to the re-
publican organization in congress; is, in
fact a part of it, and Notwithstanding the
probability that his summer inyestiga-
tions have been rendered necessary, in
part, by his desires TO become the chair
man of the committee on foreign rela-
tions, it viii everywhere be conceded that
he is not preparing to emphasize the need
for reciprocity treaties unadvisedly. 1t is
exceedingly probable that the senate,
should tariff reduction be deemed unwise
from the republican point Of view, will
endeayor to divert attention from it, and
at the same time stimulate trade, by rati-
flying certain of the treaties which have
-,Tfr 1nd ho nr
committee on foreign relations ever since
the time OF Senator Davis.
New Friends for Reciprocity.
In proportion as the threats of a
European commercial alliance against the
United States gain ground, the reciprocity
treaty idea finds new friends, and 1t is
quite possible that the most important
work Of congress next winter, from a
practical business standpoint, viii be the
enactment of legislation, or the ratifica-
tion of reciprocity treaties, which will
render such an alliance imperative.
The only legislation that could be
chased would include revision OF the
Dingiey tariff, with a view to lowering
duties on certain staple articles Of trade
shipped to US from European ports. The
republican party will never willingly
consent to this revision, for it would stir
up partizan political discussion Of very
bitter sort, and possibly be regarded by
the business world as a willful menace
to the much-t -talked-of Mckinley pros
perity. The Babcock idea of removing the
duty on trust articles belongs to this
legislative family 1t differs from the
general tariff revision proposition in de-
gree rather than in kind, and would be
strongly opposed within the republican
party even if it were not mixed up with
the trust question.
Republican Policy.
III am right in saying that congress
will not willingly revise the tariff, then
the most available remedy remaining is
the ratification Of the reciprocity treaties
which have knocked about in the senate
for several years with nobody so poor as
10 do them reverence. And it is quite
possible, as already pointed out, that in
coming to Washington during the heated
term to make a special study Of these
treaties. Senator Cullom not only involun-
tarily gives a hint as to who will be the
next chairman of the committee on for
efgn relations, which has the treaties in
charge, but also, and what is of more gen.
eral interest, a hint as to what the re-
publican policy will be next winter, when
the time shall have come to meet face to
face the Babcock bill and measures of a
similar character.
With reference to the Babcock bill it
should be said again that the sale OF
American goods in the foreign markets
at a lower price than the same goods
bring at home, is not in itself a convinc-
ing argument for the removal of the
tariff; for it frequently happens that these
low prices abroad mean the disposal Of a
surplus and keep the factories and mills
in operation all through the year, which
latter fact will appeal strongly to organ
lied labor. 1t also frequently happens
that these lower prices abroad mean the
sale of old and unstable stock. In proof
of this statement Australia offers an il
Iustration Back in 1883 and in 1890, when
the Mckinley bill was an issue before
the country, the democrats charged on the
stump, with great force, that Mccormick
harvesting and other agricultural ma
chimes were being sold in Australia for
a sum much smaller than was being
asked for the same machinery in this
country.
The charge was proved by the consular
records. certain consuls in Australia IN
official reports to the state department
having quoted the prices asked in that
country for the Mccormick goods Not
until several years had passed by, and the
Mckinley bill had ceased to be an issue,
democratic charge. 1t then was learned
that the machines offered for sale in Aus
tralia were Of obsolete patterns which were
no longer available for the American
trade New inventions from year to year
had so radically and rapidly changed the
models as to make a machine out of date
by the time it was a year old. The
American farmer would have only the lat
est and best goods, and necessarily the
old stock. of which a great quantity ac-
cumulated In spite Of anything the manu-
facturers could do, had to be offered
abroad for whatever it would bring. And
this Is all that there was in the demo
cratic charge that the Mckinley bill was
enabling the Mccormick company to sell
its agricultural machinery in Australia foI
less money than was asked for the same
machinery in this country.
Tawney's Inquisitiveness.
It is easy to see from what has been
said here that the tariff is not in all cases,
nor necessarily in the important ones, re-
suonsibIe for the fact that American goods
are sold abroad more cheaply than al
home. This subject bears directly upon
the inquiries which Congressman Tawney
Of Minnesota has asked the state depart
ment to propounr to American cOnsuls
in all European ports. If the suggestions
offered in the foregoing paragraph are
worth anything, it will make no difference
what reply these consular c1icers make tC
the Tawney questions, for it will throw
no light upon the main proposition.
Another illustration similar in charac-
Continued on Second Page.