The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-11-04
Minnesotans in Washington
See Danger Ahead.
INACTION ON TARIFF
This Will Influence the West IN
favorably for Republicans.
EXPECTED ACTION OF PRESIDENT
General and Non-CommittaI RECON-
mesdatien of Reciprocity and
sbip Subsidy.


Frens Tas JessrsseE Bwro&tt. EOo~s &E. PeSs
SsSStSSnS, Washington.
Washington, Nov. At is the opinion of
Minnesotans in Washington that the
failure of congress this winter to indicate
that it intends to do something with re-
ciprocity and the tariff is likely to in
fiuence the 1902 campaign unfavorabIy for
republicans in nearly all OF the middle
west states. 1t Is in these states that
gle to control the fifty-eighth congress,
and in proportion as they are successful
they will see their way more clearly to
making an issue for the campaign of 1904.
These states have been the battle ground
OF nearly every presidential campaign for
a generation, and it is significant that
public sentiment within their borders is
almost unanimously in favor ofreciprocity
or of some kind of tariff revision. Min
nesota. while reliably republican on ma
tional issues, is geographically a part of
this middle west territory, and it is feared
here that congress by its failure to meet
existing demands, may to some degree
complicate the gubernatorial campaign
next year.
Secretary Wilson of the department Of
agriculture, is now making campaign
speeches in Iowa, and it is noteworthy
that in his discussion of reciprocity he ad-
votes the principle, but says that the
United States should not ratify treaties Of
this sort which will in any manner damage
any American industries, In other words,
he adheres to the old idea that this coun-
try should continue to take all it can get
in return. President Mckinley in
his Buffalo speech said that this
sort of thing could not long con-
tinue without doing the country untold
harm. The principle underlying the reci-
proclty treaties now pending before the
senate is the enlargement Of American
trade as a whole. Necessarily, in the
working out of the principle an indi-
Vldual manufacturer here an there will
suffer more or less, but the trade of the
country as unit will be greatly aug
mented. 1t is in defense Of these oc-
casional individual manufacturers that the
eastern states Of the north have combined
and the combination will be a powerful
factor in determining the senate's action.
SUBSIDY The president has
been doing a good deal
AND of thinking about reci-
proctty and tariff revis-
RECIPROCITY. ion. The more people
he sees the stronger is
his belief that the republican partv is
threatened with a serious division, the
east against the west, as in the days of
the McKiDlpU hill oi+
his personal Views regarding these two
great questions, it is pretty we'll under
stood that he will suppress them in his
message. He Will probably recommend
reciprocity in general terms, but will
leave congress the working out of details
and the initiation of a policy He will
probably not mention the Babcock idea.
or if he does, it will be in some non
committal way.
On both these questions he has seen
the leading men Of the country. He has
talked with Senators Frye, Aldrich. Lodge
and Platt, and Representative Dalzell
and Payne on one side and with Senator's
Nelson, Cullom, Beveridge and Spooner
and Representatives Minor and Jones of
Washington on the other. James J. Hill
OF st. Paul, who also represents western
Ideas, has been White House diner re-
Gently. Hill is especially interested in the
ship subsidy bill, but he has broad and in
telligent ideas on all other public uues
tlons. AS the result of these interviews
the president sees that the east is on one
side OF reciprocity and tariff reduction
and that the west is on the other side He
believes that congress should determine
the policy Of the republican party. and SO
his message will do little beyond putting
himself in proper attitude. His recon-
mendations and suggestions will be gen
eral.
Regarding the ship subsidy bill the
country is also divided The east wants
the bulk of the money for the fast ships.
while the west and the middle west favor
giving it to the slower and larger boats
1t is believed that the message will in
dorse the subsidy proposition also in gen
eral terms.
The republican party, in the congress
now about to convene, will face a crisis
IN It's history. The record of that con-
gress will determine, in a large way, the
democratic platform for 1902 and 1904
The campaign of 1902 will be fought on
the record Of that congress. President
Roosevelt understands the situation. and
Is, therefore, taking unusual precautions
IN the preparation Of his message What
ever mistakes congress may make he
does not purpose to be a party to them.
BY keeping his own record right he will
strengthen that of the entire party. II
is now the opinion of careful observers
in all parties that New England and other
eastern pull inside republican ranks
VIII prevent the ratification of reciprocity
treaties and defeat any attempts at tariff
revision, whether of the Babcock or of
some other variety. This belief will give
to the presidents message an interest