The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-06-25

amDlClOnS ClaC IOunQ place IN MS
oriental mind.
SOUTH FOR PROTECTION.
Remarkable as it may seem, a very
vigorous objection is being heard
from the south against the movement
inaugurated by some of the republi-
can congressman and newspapers for
tariff reform and the abolition of the
high protective feature imposed by
the Dingley law on some Of the Inn
ports Of the country. 1t is almost
paradoxical, but such is, nevertheless,
the case. Several prominent leaders
of the south's democratic representa-
ton in both houses are very pro-
nounced in their opposition to any
marked changes in the existing law
and when the matter comes to q vote,
next winter, they may be expected
to be found voting with the high tar
if republicans who are arrayed
against the Babcock idea Of reciproc-
.ty.
The reason for this is not hard to
arrive at. The south at present is
pretty much in the same position that
the east was some years ago in that
it needs protection for it's sinfant in
dustries." The cotton mills, the iron
mines, furnaces, the lumber industry,
the sugar planters and numerous
other branches of commerce and man
ufacture below the Mason and Dixon
line are prosperous and nourishing to
a degree unknown a few years ago,
thanks to the republican tariff, and
they do not relish the idea of being
deprived of the protection they now
enjoy against foreign competition. AS
is we'll known, Louisiana's represent
atives in congress have for several
years been voting with the republi-
cans on tariff legislation and assisted
in the passage of the Dingley bill,
realizing that it was to their interest
as much if not more than twas to
the interest of the north and east to
have that class of legislation enacted.
By reason Of the operations of this
law the cotton industry Of the south
has developed with a ~suddenness and
vigor that is having serious effect
on the New England states, which
formerly had a practical monopoly Of
that class of industry, and is also hav-
ing a very depressing effect on the
middle and eastern states, which are
the ones apparently striving the hard
est for tariff revision, as they are the
ones which expect to be benefited
the most by a revision along the
lines proposed by Babcock and others
committed to his plan.
The southern protectionists are do
ing all in their power to encourage
a split in the republican party on the
tariff question, hoping that it will re-
suit to their own benefit by making
impossible any changes in the exist
ing law. The element OF the south
opposed to Tillman and behind Nc.
Laurin is the same element now en-
deavoring to prevent the Babcock
idea from becoming sufficiently strong
to overcome their opposition and that
of the ultra protectionists Of his own
party.
The new situation which has sprung
up in the south is a remarkable one
and interesting to the student of pol
itics and only emphasizes what has
often been claimed for the south
that il the ace question could be sue
cessfully eliminated from the politics
of the south that section of the coun-
try. would speedily become one Of the
strongest and most consistent as well
as persistent republican sections and
even the New England states could
not be relied upon with greater GER
tainty to support the republican party
and its principles. Everything In the
way of environment and interest APP
peals to the south to align itself on
the side of the republicans, but the
old question of negro domination and
the p%rejudices that it has naturally
given birth to prevent contamination
of the political change.
-
PAUNcEFoTE RETiREs.
Although it was denied at the time
he left here, ostensibly for the pur-
pose of going on a vacation, it does