The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-24
GOT The COUNTRY BY The THROAT.
How Robber Barons Prevent Leg
lslation to Reduce the Tariff.

lslatiOn to Reduce the Tariff.
Washington, July 16.-It is now
practically conceded by so-called Glow
tariff Republicans that there will be
no action towards tariff lowering in
Congress next winter. One of the
most prominent of them, admitting
this, said that nearly all his allies had
abandoned him owing to the warnings
issued to them by the American Pro
tective Tariff League that their dis
tricts would be invaded and them
selves defeated for denomination unless
they abandoned their announced in
tentions. Speaker Henerson, who has
been credited with being back of the
Babcock movement, has also been noti-
fed, gently but firmly, that he can be
elected Speaker only if he will indi
cate his willingness to frown upon all
movements towards reducing the tariff.
The President, as noted in this cor
respondence some days ago, has decid
ed to give over his efforts to bring
about reciprocity with foreign nations,
and his tacit support of the revenue
reform measures in the House, in con-
sequence of influences brought to bear
upon him by the Protective Tariff
League.
For some time, there have been
many rumors in print to the.efect that
Mr. Henderson might not be reflect
ed. After telling of the supposed SEN
timent adverse to his reelection, and
concurring or non-concurring in it, as
the case may be, the published arti-
cles Invariably conclude with the
statement that his defeat is unlikely,
because the opposition to him is un-
organized and there is nobody to run
against him. These expressions, in
the opinion of the..Speaker's friends,
were merely warnings to Mr.. Hender
son from the league to desist from his
tariff policy and were SO qualified that,
if he should obey, they could be allow
ed to die out.
Thus the American Protective Tariff
League, which started out openly after
the scalp of Mr.. Babcock and such
other Republican members Of the Ways
and Means committee as did not meas
ure up to its proposed tariff wall,
handled the Henderson end of the pro-
position rather gingerly, waiting to
see how the cat would jump. It is
now stated that it will cease its oppo-
sition to Mr.. Henderson and concen-
trate on Mr.. Babcock and one or two
others who refuse to bow down to its
behests. Evidently, the cat has
Jumped the right way.
It must have been a bitter pill to
| 70 bo 4o x-iolE
for his election in the first place was
engineered by a group of western men,
under the leadership of Babcock, law
ney, Hull and others, who brought
the delegations of Michigan, Wiscon-
sin. Indiana. Iowa, Illinois and Kan
sas into combination so strong as to
immediately attract other States and
to make the speakership contest short,
sharp and decisive. The leaders Of
that movement have for long time en-
tertained the opinion that there would
have to be an abatement of tariff upon
some articles to satisfy sentiment in
the west, and they supported Mr.. Hen
derson's election to the speakershlp
with that end in view. For him to
leave them as it is said that he has
done, shows how intense the secret
fight has been.
a curious commentary on General
Otis course in the Philippines is
found in a compendium Of reports just
made public by General Miles. Gen
eral Otis, it seems never failed to
turn down" General Macarthur
when the circumstances admitted Of
such treatment. In one of his early
messages, for instance, November,
lS99-General Macarthur urged Gen
eral Otis to issue proclamation of
amnesty to all who surrendered and a
declaration that anyone who should
kill an American soldier should be
treated thereafter as a murderer. The
answer to this telegram was as fol-
lows:
General Macarthur:
Your telegram announcing your pol
icy received. Your recommendations
concerning proclamatons cannot be car
ried out: legal difficulties of interna-
tional character, apparently not IN
derstood by you. forbid. No further
advice on this subject desired by the
commanding general
Within six months from that time
Macarthur had succeeded Otis, and
the proclamation was issued June 10,
1900. by direction of the Predsident.
There are other dispatches that seem
to show that the fighting in the Phil
ippines was unduly prolonged, owing
| TO General OTIS blunderingS.