The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-13
nAncocK rHREArENEp.


Representative Babcock of Wisconsin is
to feel the effects of the party lash If
he persists in his efforts to have the du-
! ties on such articles as are controlled by
| trusts reduced-particularly the duties on
! iron and steel products. He was appoint
ed to fill vacancy in the Ways and
Means Committee in the last Congress,
and soon after he received his appoint
ment he introduced into the House a bill
to reduce the tariff on certain articles, his
| purpose being to compel trusts to sell their
products in- the home market as cheaply
as they sell them in foreign markets.
The bin made a great stir in Republican
circles, and there has been a vast deal
Of talk about il ever since. The high
protectionists. particularly, are very much
aroused by it. They are afraid that Mr..
Babcock viii introduce the bin into the
present Congress, and there are reasons
for thinking he will.
All through the West there is a feeling
that a tariff for protection is of no benefit
to that section of the country This feel
ing is especially noticeable among the
farmers. In championing a bill therefore
which reduces the iff-partcularly the
tariff on articles manufactured by trusts
he is doing something which is popular
in his section of the country. And it is
popular in other sections also.
1t would not be surprising therefore II
it were the purpose of Mr.. Babcock to
Introduce his bill into the present Con-
gress. But the high protectionists don't
want any such bill introduced. They say
it will disturb the business situation and
bring about hard times. Their argument
is that the difference between good times
and bad times is only about five or ten
per cent. of the volume of the business
of the country, and that If an agitation
over the tariff were begun business would
fan off that much. and there would be
hard times. Whether or not they are
right is an interesting question. but as
Stunning that they are, would 1T not be
better TO have hard times for a year or
two than TO continue to endure evils
which are certain to bring about hard
times sooner or later-hard times that
will come to stay for a long period? OF
one side of the matter at issue. They
have believed in protection so long that
they cannot bring themselves 10 believe
that they are mistaken in the slightest
degree.
1t is stated that Mr.. Babcock has been
told by these high protectionists that
if he introduces his tariff reduction bill
ir+o. fbie C,oDorose +bo,r Mill 600 20 Il +bat
he is not reapponted on the Ways and
Means Committee. They assume of
course that Mr.. Henderson viii be re-
elected speaker and that they can con-
troll him in this matter.
1t might turn out that Mr.. Henderson
is in sympathy with the Babcock bill
He comes from section of country
where the Babcock ideas in respect to
the tariff prevail. Iowa votes with the
Republican party, but it cannot be said
that her people believe in high protec-
ton. In fact it is probable that they do
not believe in protection at all. Mr.
Henderson, therefore. may think it advis-
able to act in accordance with the views
of the people of his section of the coun-
try. Besides, he is under Obligations to
Mr. Babcock, who did as much if not
more than any other man to bring about
his election 20 the speakership of the
last Congress.
If Mr.. Henderson should take that sort
of a stand an effort might be made to
prevent him from being elected speaker
of this Congress. 1t can be seen there
fore that the Babcock bill is of more
importance than the casual observer
would think it was. 1t may be the cause
of a iong and vigorous fight for the
speakership. In fact it may be the cause
of great deal of trouble within the ranks
OF the Republican party.