The Washington times., 1901-09-22
Circulation Statement.
Mr.. Babcock and Tariff Reform.

Representative Babcock is quoted as
still firm in the belief that the tariff
should be removed from trust controlled
products, and as just as firmly insisting
that there is nothing Democratic in his
proposition
Nobody is disposed to haggle with
Mr.. Babcock as to how his measure
shall be classified IN partisan way. 1t
matters very little whether it be called
Republican or Democratic, or receive
no partisan designation whatever. 1t is
the essence of Inc thing that is to be
considered. At the same time ii is NOR
ally certain that the Democratic mem
bership of Congress will give him
practically unanimous support, if an
opportunity is afforded, and that the
Republicans of both Houses will be
overwhelmingly against him. 1t is al
together improbable that he Will ever
get hearing outside of the House Com
mittee on Ways and Means That COM
mittee viii not report the measure, and
even if by some miracle it should find
its way TO the Calendar the Committee
on Rules would not allow it to be con-
sidered in the House. Hence, it is clear
that viewing his proposal in the light
of the present attitude of the parties. it
is not Republican in character, but is
Democratic as far as it goes. And it
must be confessed that it goes some
distance
Let the Senate ratify the reciprocity
treaties, and then let all duties be re-
moved from products that are con-
trolled by the trusts. and the two will
constitute a long, healthy stride in the
direction of tariff reform. The worst
abuses OF the Dingley law will be COM
pletely eliminated. To do this may be
Republicanism, as Mr.. Babcock under
stands it, but it clearly is not in line
with the prevailing current of Repub
lican thought. Nearly all OF the more
prominent of the party leaders, includ-
ing Mr.. Hanna. have publicly an
nounced their opposition to the meas
ure. and their unwillingness to have the
tariff question opened. The Republican
party as a whole has iterated and re-
iterated that the Dingley law is the pri-
mary cause of our great prosperity-in
fact, that il embodies the highest wis
ma has not been content to rest upon
this mere general idea, but he gees
further and openly declares that the
trusts are natural and proper evolu-
tion, and that they are positive bene-
fit to the country. From this it follows
that the Ohio Senator would oppose
with all his might any measure intend
ed to curb the trusts and keep their
profits within reasonable bounds. There
are some matters of legislation in which
he has not been altogether potent with
his party; but in this one the great bulk
of the party has thus far been with
him, and there can be no doubt that
when he declares the trusts to be good
for the country, he simply gives open
expression to what the most of his par
tisan associates think, but are scarcely
bold enough to say.
1t is a pleasure. though. to observe
that Mr.. Babcock is standing his
ground firmly, and is arguing stOutly in
favor OF his measure. We can hardly
suppose that he is the ONLY Republican
whose eyes have been orened to the
magnitude of the trust evil and the
close connection which exists between
the tariff and the great industrial COM
binations that so completely dominate
the business of the country. Therefore,
his attitude is encouraging to all who
desire genuine tariff reform. Mr.. Bah
cock has fine opportunity before him,
and il is to be hoped that he will meas
ure up TO it.