Woodruff County news., 1901-05-16
NO TINKERING OF TARIFF.
It Eevt Suits Mark Hanna, COnse- 0aentfy Must Not Re In-
 terfered With.

The evident difference of opinion amongst republicans and republican newspapers on the necessity of tinkering 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 evi- dently since the adjournment of congress discovered that their con stituents are against the trusts" and favor the repeal of the sched- ules that give them special privileges. Congressman Babcock, of Wisconsin, who is chairman of the republican congressional 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 favoring the trusts, will allow the foreigners to come in and compete with our producers of fruits, oils and wines, etc, and still protect the manufacturer. This was the ar engagement in the reciprocity treaty with France which was rejected by the senate.
 There is another advantage seen by the president in tinkering the tar Tiff by means of reciprocity treaties. It prevents the matter coming before the house of representatives, where all matters of revenue constitutional iy belong, and relegates it to the exec utive sessions of the senate which are held with closed doors. Thus the people and their representatives know nothing about the matter un- til it is settled. The czar 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 l indications of our near approach to imperialism. Senator Hanna evident ly agrees with the reciprocity pro- | gramme and it is singular that on | the same day that President McKin- ley announced it, on his tour of tri-
 umph through the south, Senator | Hanna makes more extended state ment of the intentions of the admin
 istration in another part of the coun- | try. In an interview at Washington, Pa, he said: "I am not cheeky | enough to endeavor to speak for the republican party, but I can speak for myself, and as far as I am concerned there will be no tinkering with the | tariff. Congressman Babcock's posi- | tion does not merit serious consider | ation.
 Although, perhaps, it would make 1 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 con- cerned, but we must protect our selves against the big institutions which are springing mp on our border.
 'The Dingley tariff is a most per feet work of human ingenuity, bal anced on scientific principles. It 1 must not be disturbed nor must there
 be any changes in our tariff except on a basis of reciprocity"
 The pretended modesty of Hanna is evidently intended as another hit at Babcock for having dared to inter- fere in matter that only Mckinley, Hanna and the trusts have any busi- ness to meddle with. The balance of the republican party, including the republican members of congress, are evidently expected to ratify any ac- ton that they may desire, reciproc- ity or otherwise.
 Hanna tells one great truth in his interview 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 how ever be allayed when the major re- | turns from his free trip and takes Babcock and his following in hand backed up by the persuasive elo- | quence of the steel and other trusts
 There is plenty of time to arrange matters. Congress does not meet un- | til December.
 While the republican expansion | ists have come face to face with the | fact that protection and their pet