The Washington times., 1901-10-20
Circulation Statement.
Tariff Reform.

Tariff Reform.
The Chicago Record Herald quotes
Representative Babcock as expressing
the belief that his bill removing duties
from trust-controlled products will pass
the next Congress, and as saying that
If Congress does not adopt a plan of
tariff reform, the people will next year.
The reasons for Mr.. Babcock's conf
6enee that Congress will act favorably
are not given, and it is more than like
ly that il comes from his clear percep-
tion of the merits of such measure
The proposal is so manifestly just that
ne can scarcely contemplate the possi-
bility of Congress refusing to take
favorable action upon il. II this is his
sole reliance it is TO be feared that he
is taking entirely too much for granted.
Considerations of justice are not wholly
without weight with Congress, but, un-
fortunately, they generally have count
ed for very little when the tariff has
been the subject of legislation. Apart
from Mr.. Babcock, not Republican of
any national prominence has expressed
a direct approval of his measure or of
any analogous proposition. There
have been a few vague generalities
pointing in that direction, but nothing
more. With very few exceptions the
recognized leaders of the Republican
party have secuted the idea of enacting
any such measure. Still, the Wisconsin
Representative may have been count
ing noses and possibly he has some
knowledge of which we are not advised.
The latter portion of his statement,
however, is very significant. If Con-
gress does not act, the people will next
year. says Mr- Rabcock. This presents
the matter in a different light. Evi-
IDENTIFY he has been feeling the public
pulse, and there can be no question as
to how it beats upon this subject.
There has not been a time in many
years when the tariff figured as strong
ly as it is likely to in the next election
il Congress fails to take action along
the lines of Mr.. Babcock's bill. And
the position of the tariff reformers will
be stronger, politically, than it has been
in recent years. Never have the abuses
Of the tariff been so glaring as they
are now. The struggle will be for the
elimination of abuses, and not for the
overthrow of the protective system in
its entirety. AS matters now stand il
will hardly be possible for the leaders
of the Republican party TO friShten the
people with the spectre of free trade.
All of the people cannot be fooled all OF
the time, nor can even a majority Of
them
II there is not great room for reform
In our tariff laws then indeed there is
nothing in politics or statecraft to
which that term can fittingly be ap-
piled Mr.. Babcock perceiyes it, and so
do many other lifelong Republicans. |
The late President Mckinley saw it
very clearly. For present purposes it is |
q matter of Indifference whether his |
views had undergone a fundamental |
change concerning the tariff principle. |
OF he simply saw in a clear Hight the |
change in the American Industrial sit
uation. Nothing can be more certain
than that he favored a very substantial |
departure from the policy now in
vogue. Although his arguments and |
axioms were essentially free trade in |
character, it is not necessary to assume |
that ne was anxious to pull down the |
pillars of the temple and destroy the |
whole edifce of protection The situa- |
ton does not require us to go so far as /
that. But his negotiation of numerous /
reciprocity treaties and his urgent |
plea for policy that would enlarge the /
foreign markets for our goods were |
distinct admissions that the time had |
come for a substantial modification of !
q system which, besides doing rank in
Justice to our own people. has left us
without a commercial friend in the |
world.
Political parties are sometimes in the |
greatest danger when superfcially their /
position appears to be the strongest !
This may be the case with the Repub /
licau party at the present time. 1t |
surely is so If Mr.. Babcock is right in
his view. No party can safely under
take to defend a thing which is palpa-
bly, and inexcusably wrong, and in
which the masses of the people are
deeply concerned.