The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-15
" ANTS TIM|D
MEN WHO OPPOSE REVISION OF
TARIFF AFRAID TO Do SO
OPENLY
COMMISSION IDEA IS LIKED
Demand Among the People for
Changing Schedules Is Strong
Enough to Make Congress-
men Afraid.
COMMISSION IDEA IS LIKED
RECIPROCITY ALSO B0THERING
GLOBE WASHINGTON BUREAU,
Post building, Room 45.


Post Building, Room 45.
WASHINGTON, D. c., NV IA. - A
commission to consider the subject of
gestion Of Senator Orville H. Platt, OF
Connecticut. 1t is also the idea of the
New England Protective Tariff league.
Of which Platt is the spokesman. Sena-
tor Aldrich, of Rhode Island, is said to
look with favor Oil the plan; and it is
natural tkat he should, as he also repre-
Sents the same combination of protected
interests.
If Mckinley were president the an
nounce!nent that Platt and Aldrich were
in favor of thing would amount to d
statement that the project had the in
dorsement of the administration 1t is
not so certain that Roosevelt Will accept
the suggestion of these foriner mentors
of the president.
The Republican senators who are urg-
ing the appointment of a commission to
consider ard recommend reciprocity ana
tariff legislation have adopted one of the
favorite stratagems of Mr.. Mckinley S
administration. No president eyer ap-
pointed as many COMMISSIONS as did
Mckinley. 1t was his favorite method
of solving troublesome questions; and it
must be admitted that it was a very eff
fective means for the accomplishment of
the objects desired. When the pack of
the dissatisfied raised their voices and
came snarling at the back of his chariot
of state he would throw over a commits
sion for them to chew on. Then it was
all up to the commission The president
and his administr2tio moved on freely,
and in time was quite out of hearing Of
the commission and the complaining
pack.
Cannot Openly Oppose Revision.
In view of the declaration in the Re-
publican platform, and of the sentiments
expressed by Mckinley in his Buffalo
speech, many Republican senator's do
not think it wise to openly oppose tariff
revision and reciprocity. To do. so would
expose them to attack by the minority,
who would accuse them of attempting
to reverse the policy of their party at
the dlctation cf the trusts and without
authority from the people. 1t is there
fore the task of the Republican leaders
from the Eastern states to head off the
tariff revision movement without SEEM
ing to openly oppose it. For this pur-
pose delay will be the watchWard
Anything for an obstruction. If COM
mission, is appointed they figure that it's
recommendations will not be of radical
character; and no matter what It's rec
concentrations are they can hardly be
considered by congress before the short
session next. winter. This will postpone
the subject until after the congressional
elections year from this month, in
view of which every legislative move is
now planned.
Agitation for Reciprocity.
On Tuesday, the 18th of this month, a
convention of merchants will assemble
at the Raleigh hotel in this city to talk
oyer the policy Of reciprocity. Delegates
are expected from Chicago, Sc. Paul,
Mime epolis, Indianapolis, St. Louis and
many other points in the North and Mid
die west New York, Boston and Phila-
delphia will also be represented. Theo-
dore c. Search, of Philadelphia, is one
OF the CHEF moven in the project. The
various boards of trade in the East are
instructing delegates against the policy
of indorsing any particular one of the
treaties which have been negotiated.
The Eastern interests aie particularly
opposed to the French treaty.
Representative Long, of Kansas, who is
a member of the ways and means COM
mittee of the house, was one of President
Roosevelt's callers today. He joins with