The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1901-05-23
DIFFER ON THE TARIFF.

The evident differences of opinion
among Republicans and Republican
newspapers on the necessity of tinker
ing the tariff to down the trusts or to
preserve it intact in the interest of
those combines is rather remarkable in
view of the fact that the tariff pirates
have hitherto all stood together only
clamoring that their particular trust or
interest might be especially favored.
Some of the Republican brethren have
evidently since the adjournment of
Congress discovered that their cOnstit-
uents are against the trusts and IA
vOr the repeal of the schedules that
give them special privileges. Congress
man BabcOck Of Wisconsin, who is
chairman of the Republican Congress
sional Committee, seems to have heard
the voice of the people in his district
and probably elsewhere. President
Mckinley wants to dodge the difficulty
by reciprocity treaties which, while IA
voring the trusts, will allow the for
eigners to come in and compete with
|
etc, and still protect the manufacturer.
This was the arrangement in the reci-
| procity treaty with France. which was
rejected by the Senate.
There is another advantage seen by
' the President i'm tinkering the tariff by
means of reciprocity treaties; it pre-
vents the matter coming before the
House of Representatives. where all
matters of revenue constitutionally be-
long and relegates it to the executive
sessions of the Senate, which are held
with closed doors. Thus the people and
their representatives know nothing
about the matter until it is settled.
The Car of Russia and his executive
council arrange tariffs and taxes in this
way, and its initiation by President
Mckinley and the Republicans is one
of the strong indications of our near
approach to Imperialism. Senator
Hanna evidently agrees with the reci-
proclty program, and it is singular that
on the same day that President McKin-
ley announced it, on his tour of triumph
through the South, Senator Hanna
makes a more extended statement of
the intentions of the administration in
another part of the country. In an in
terview at Washington, Pa, he said:
II am not cheeky enough to endeavor
to speak for the Republican party. but
1 can speak for myself. and rs far as
l am concerned there will be no tinker
ing with the tariff. Congressman Bah
cocks position does not merit serious
consideration. Although. perhaps, it
would make but little difference to take
off the metal schedule, do you suppose
we are going to do that and allow the
Nova Scotia Steel Company, for in
stance, to dump her products into New
England? Not much. We may not
need the tariff so much any more as
far as foreign countries are concerned,
but we must protect ourselves against
the big institutions which are spring
ing up on our border. The Dingley
tariff is most perfect work Of human
ingenuity. balanced on scientific prin-
ciples. 1t must not be disturbed nor
must there be any changes in our tariff
except on basis of reciprocity"
The pretended modesty of Hanna is
evidently intended as another hit at
Babcock for having dared to interfere
in n matter that only Mckinley, Hanna
and the trusts have any business to
meddle with. The balance of the Re
publican party, including the Repub-
lican members Of Congress, are evident
ly expected to ratify any action that
they may desire, reciprocity or other
wise.
Hanna tells one great truth in his in
terview when he intimates that the
tariff is so ingenuously balanced that
it is dangerous to disturb it in the
slightest manner or it may fall to
pieces. All this tempest may, however,
be allayed when the Major returns
from his free trip and takes Babcock
and his following in hand, backed up
by the persuasive elOquence Of the steel
and other trusts There is plenty of
time to arrange matters; Congress does
not meet until December.