The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1901-11-21

spreading reports that the president has
come over to their side The result of
the conference at the White House with
Chairman Payne and other members Of
| the Ways and Means committee is said
by the Washington correspondent CT
the New York Press to have BEEN
1t was agreed that there was no
need Of tariff revision; that reciprocity,
az represented in the Kasson treaties,
was not feasible at the coming session,
and that If any relief was needed by the
country it could best be granted in re-
duction of the war taxes. The Babcock
bill for the abolition of certain duties on
articles made by trusts are not to be re-
ported
The Republican members of the
| Ways and Means committee are largely
Of this mind there seems to be little
doubt, but we may well question wheth-
er the president has agreed to drop the
agitation He is quite likely to have
something positive and progressive to
say on the subject in the forthcoming
message.
But to what purpose with the lead
ers in congress? Mr. McKinley's coun-
sci was supposed to be more potent in
this direction than that of any other
man, and he said in his last public ad-
dress: The period of exclusiveness is
past. Reciprocity treaties are in harm
ony with the spirit of the times. If,
perchance some Of our tariffs are no
| longer needed for revenue or to encour-
age and protect our industries at home,
why should they not be employed to ex-
tend and protect our markets abroadT
Nevertheless the Republican leaders Of
Mr. McKinley's own state are saying
that the spirit Of the times has been
proved by the elections to be altogether
different, and that the present protec-
tive tariff is no more TO be revised or
modified than the ten commandments
If Payne, Grosvenor, Hanna and the
others are in temper to fout the coun-
sci of their late beloved leader, speaking
AZ in solemn farewell utterance. how
far will anything President Roosevelt
rlay say go with them? Not very far,
e~ccnt rs the use Of public patronage is
brought 10 bear.
1t would thus seem that the oppon-
ents Of revision and reciprocity have
some reason for feeling confident that
nothing will be done. Last weeks cleo
tions are helpful to them The .revela-
ton OF the Democracy in worse state
Of weakness and chaos than ever before
known IN 10 years is not stimulating TO
effort in the way of change. If the tar
iii is enabling the trusts to plumber the
people the people do not seem to be
much exercised about it. They evident
" enjoy it. The times are good, the
country is prosperous, the party in pow
er grows in the public confidence and
support, and opposition melts away.
Why change anything Why not let
well enough alone. as Mr. Hanna says!
And as parties in power do not ordin-
arily move, except under great popular
pressure, we may look for II pretty Ian
guid course of conduct from the coming
| congress III all respects save the matter
of spending the surplus revenue upon
various schemes and Jobs,
| I'VE learn from some of the organs
! that tariff reformers seem TO be very
anxious about Republican action in the
matter. Probably this is not generally
! true In SO far as the present tariff
| system is assisting combination and
monopoly in concentrating wealth in
.hc hands OF the few, we may all Justly
feel disturbed; for the tendency is one
threatening the graYest troubles to the
state But as n popular cause the worst
thing that could happen to tariff reform
would be to enact a certain measure of
il lust when the tide of business revival
is at the Hood. and when reaction must
soon follow in the nature Of things.
The movement has suffered too much al
ready from such condolences, that an
other should be deliberately welcomed.
There accordingly exists among tariff
reformers no special anxiety lest this
c)l z c,s shall Vii TO act They can far
bettef afford TO wait than tbs tariff ex-
tremists or the trade interests of the
country.