The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1901-12-05
TARIFF REVISION.
TAs Outiook for Reform Graws
nriEhtsr with the Passage
of Tiine.

As tar New York Evening Pos,
points out, those distinguished pro-
iectioniSis who haze assumed that
the president is opposed TO all tariff
changes simply because he treated
them politely when they called on
him, arc likely 10 find themselves mia
taken. Congressman GrcSveuOr, for
instance, IA too emphatic when he
says that "there is no more chance
that the republicans in congress will
attempt a revision OF the tariff ut the
next session than that they will re-
Tire the leu Commandments" IL In
possible, Of course, says the Indian
apolis News CInd), that the rePub-
leans will do nothing ia the way of
revision. hut the chances are that
they win make she attempt. These
gentlemen forget certain influences
that are not 10 be despised. Prob
ably the most important is the last
speech Of the late President Mekin-
ley which impressed the country no
powerfully when u wab delivered. Ii
Is beyond dispute that MIR. Mckinley
was committed TO much more lib
cral tariff policy, and that he was
prepared 10 use his great powers to
secure a modification of our customs
duties.
Another thing To be rcmetpbered 10
that President Roosevelt, though q
stanch proiectionist, Is not of che eS-
trcme school. His view is the BUSH
meas view, and that Is inconsistent
with the theory that there Is any
thing sacred On u given schedule.
Moreover, the president is en- cxpan-
sionist, md a. such be no doubt sees
that there will have To be moditica-
lions Of our restrictive system. CcF-
tainly he will not favor a policy In
this country that viii impoyrrlsh and
ruin the people OF Cuba. Further
than this Senator Lodge. who prob
ably stands a. close To the president
an any other man, has declared him
self in favor of the policy of reel.
proeiiy. And there are plenty OF re-
puhlicans In public life who believe
that there should be changes Ia the
tariff
lack Of all IL the uudoubted SEN
timcnt throughout the west In favor
Of tariff notifications. either through
reciprocity or tariff revision. This
sentiment, already strong, win grow
stronger as time passes. II will not
be appcused by the 'alk of letting
well enough alone. The presence of
vas, "ad increasing surplus in the
treasury, the Wild talk about huge
appropriations, thc temptation 10 ex-
trnyRguncr inherent Ia a surplus, the
knowledge that few nf our industries
need the great amount of protection
they are now receiving the disrrm-
nations made by protected trusts
, against the home consumer. all
I these are so many more influences
I operating on the public mind.
I So We conclude that the ease Is far
/ from settled. Undoubtedly II the
attempt IL made to modify the tariff
there will br vigorous opposition. Hut
/ this rs TO be- expected. Men that
make money out 81 the government
are never willing to rclinpuish the
advantages they enjoy. Hut II should
be- remembered that there H. at the
I present time no proposition 10 do
| away with projections hut ruly 10
do away with its cNtravagaurrs. es-
/ pecially those that seem likely iu the
near future e. interfere with the de-
] velopment of our foreign trade.
Z Whether there are any changes at the
next session nr not. IL Is clenr that
the great industrial and commercial
forces are strongly on the side Of re-.
vision. Reform will come. and that
at no distant Jgy