Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-05-16
NO TARIFF TINKERING.
Is Row Suits Mark Hanna, Conse.
quently Must Not Be In
terfered With.

The evident difference of opinion
amongst republicans and republican
newspapers on the necessity of
:inkering 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
he tariff pirates have hitherto all
stood together only clamoring that
heir particular trust or interest
night be especially favored. Some OF
he republican brethren have evil
lently since the adjournment of
congress discovered that their con-
stituents are against the trusts"
and favor the repeal of the sched-
lies that give them special privileges.
Congressman Babcock, of Wisconsin,
who is chairman of the republican
congressional committee, seems to
nave heard the voice of the people in
his district and probably elsewhere.
President Mckinley wants to dodge
he 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
he manufacturer. This was the ar
rangement in the reciprocity treaty
with France which was rejected by
he senate.
There is another advantage seen
oy the president in tinkering the tar
IF by means of reciprocity treaties.
1t prevents the matter coming before
the house of representatives, where
all matters of revenue constitutional
Y 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 I'M
til it is settled. The czar of Russia
tariffs and taxes in this way and its
initiation by President Mckinley and
the republicans is one of the strong
indications of our near approach to
imperialism. Senator Hanna evident
~ 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 a more extended state
ment of the intentions of the admin
istration in another part of the
try. In an interview at Washington,
Pa, he said: 81 am not cheeky
enough to endeavor to speak for the
republican party, but l can speak for
myself, and as far as I am concerned
here will be no tinkering with the
tariff. Congressman Babcock's posi-
LsO- loo 90 ,-~-s4
alton.
although, perhaps, it would make
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 up OF our border.
The Dingley tariff is a most per-
feet work of human ingenuity, bal
anced on scientific principles. It
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 a matter thai only Mckinley,
Hanna and the trusts have any busi-
ness to NEEDLE 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-
quenee of the steel and other trusts.
There is plenty of time to arrange
matters. Congress does not meet I'M
I'll December.