The Washington times., 1901-11-11
Circulation Statement.
senator Lodge on Legislation.

We'll known 10 be in close touch and
sympathy with President Roosevelt
that anything he may say in connection
with the policy Of the present Admins
tration is Of public interest. Moreover,
Mr. Lodge IS a man OF broader views
on national questions than are many of
his New England compeers. He is not
welded to the fallacious gospel of pro
lection for projections sake, as some of
his fellow Senate from Down East un-
fortunately are. In short, he is new
er and economically and politically a
more advanced statesman that his aged
Bay State colleague, and, party consid-
erations aside. relatively is a more pa
triotic and safer public man than most
others who come from his section.
At least Senator Lodge has the cour-
age Of his convictions sufficiently to
come out fatty for reciprocity. 1t may
be asked. why should he not when the
last publR utterance of President Nc
Kinley was a plea for that policy-a
policy long advocated and now cham
pioned earnestly by his vigorous sue
cessor? There is no proper reason why
Mr.. Lodge and all other Senators and
Representatives in Congress should not
advocate and legislate in favor of reci-
precity. as a confession Of the principle
and as a step in the direction Of scien-
tiIc free trade which, in the present
state OF the country and its needs,
would be tantamount TO fiscal policy
OF tariff for revenue only. But il takes
courage in a New England man to op-
pose the greedy cult of Chinese wall
protection in that part of the Union
REINFORCED as it is by the cohorts of
Quay in Pennsylvania, by Hanna and
his tariff forces in Ohio. and SO on
Nevs1theless. it is plain that the best
thought in Congress, backed by a pop.
ular demand Of great and growing
strength. is in favor of tariff revision.
CT its alternative of liberal reciprocity
arrangements with other commercial
nations.
IN a speech delivered at the dinner OF
the AIiddleseX Club in Boston on sat
urday. Senator Lodge made an able and
elaborate plea for reciprocity. and said
that the subject would Lave the most
anxious consideration by President
Roosevelt and Congress during the en-
suing session. ''Xhether.' he continued.
at viii be deemed pest to put this
policy into execution by means of some
generallegislstion. equivalent TO a recip-
rocad arrangement with all the nations
Of the earth, or by a series of separate
treaties. it is as yet too early to say
He SD ke of The desirability of reciproci-
ty with Cuba and with France. and
trusted that Congress would act soon
and favorablysin these directions.
We heartily join in that hope but are
afraid that il will not be realized with
out hard struggle. It is one of the [
misfortunes Of our economic situation
that so much power inheres in repre- I
sentatives in Congress OF interests un-
willing to recognize the stern truth that I
reciprocity or tariff revision must ante
date The expiration Of our commercial /
treaties with the leading States of Eu- /
rope, or they will certainly adopt a |
policy Of exclusion to American COM 1
mooities. The most plsheaded ana /
slaspins Of the tariff monopoIsts ought /
10 ne able 10 see that such an eventuai- !
" would place them in far worse sit |
uation than could happen through reci- I
procity concessions, no matter how lib /
eral. But they are Us bitterly and tear
fully antagonistic to any "tinkering /
with the tariff - as the Georgia legls-
lstor was to alternating the consutu- |
tion Of that Commonwealth, and with |
no better reason.
In the course Of time. we presume, |
common sense or q severe object lesson !
will bring about the reform which the !
American people ask for. and by and by !
viii insist upon. Public opinion did not !
endorse the holding up Of the reciproci- |
ty treaties, negotiated under Mr. Nc |
Kinleys administration. by the late
Congress. It win be heard from more |
clearly and forcibly when the next has
assembled. The evils and abuses Of |
the Dirgley system have been tolerated
too long. They must be remedied in
scme way. or the United States will be
plunged into an economic war with all
the nations II Europe.