The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-18
A QUESTION THAT WORRIES THE
PRESIDENT.


Far sighted Republican leaders see
that there is a growing public senti-
ment in favor of tariff revision. 1t is
said that some of these leaders are
urging the President to deal with the
subject in his message to Congress next
December.
on the other hand some of the ablest
of the Republican leaders do not want
the tariff question agitated. Their ar
gument is that if that question is once
opened-that is, if few amendments
are proposed-there will be such a gem
eral demand for tariff changes that
the country VII have to pass through
a period of tariff agitation.
They contend that tariff agitation
would bring about uncertainty in the
business and Industrial world, which
would be followed by hard times and
that hard times mean political am
munition for the Democratic party.
1t is a question whether these prac-
tical politicians or the advocates for
tariff revision will carry the day with
the President. Each of the two fac
LUIS DItSttlLS IL ulllItulI question AOA
the President to determine. Those who
want tariff revision point out that the
West is dissatisfied with the present
tariff, and is becoming restless under
the burdens which it imposes. They
say, and with some show of truth,
that if the Democratic party makes
the question of revising the tariff
leading issue it will gain strength all
through the West, unless the Repub-
licans act promptly and undertake re-
vision before the Democrats have
chance to make an issue of the tariff
question.
The President and some his advisers
are considering the question of quiet
ing the unrest regarding the tariff by
reciprocity treaties. There is some
thing about such treaties in the Repub-
lican national platform. 1t is evident,
however, to those who have given this
matter the careful consideration to
which it is entitled, that the country
cannot be satisfied by reciprocity
treaties. In fact, it is a most difficult
matter to get the Senate to ratify such
treaties because there are so many in
terests which are affected one way and
another by them. Half a dozen or
more of such treaties failed in the last
Congress because of the impossibility
Of reconciling conflicting interests.
The Ohio Democrats put a strong
plank in their platform in favor of tar
if revision, and it is certain that DEM
ocrats of other states will do the same
thing. Indeed, there are indications
that the tariff question will be made
the leading one In the congressional
elections next year, and in the national
campaign IN 1904, If 1t is not sat
isfactorily settled before that time. 1t
is certain that the people of this coun-
try will not submit to the exactions
of tariff-protected trusts. They will
not consent to continue to pay for the
products of trusts from fifty to a hun
bred per cent. more than the products
of the same trusts are sold in foreign
markets.
The Republican leaders are awake to
the danger which threatens their party
if it continues to stand by the trusts,
but thely are afraid to lose the friend
ship and aid of the trusts. 1t is not TO
be wondered at therefore that the Pres
ident is in doubt as to the course he
ought to pursue in respect to the tariff
from a party point of view.