Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-05-08

MR.. MCKINLEY AND THE TARIFF.
William E. Curtis, the Washington
correspondent of the Chicago Record
Herald, says:
1.-The recent rebellion of Representative
Babcock, of Wisconsin, and the heresies
taught by Mr.. Roberts, the Director OF
The Mint, and others concerning the tar
If, are causing considerable alarm among
the high protection leaders of the Repub-
lican party, and as soon as the President
returns from California they will endeav-
Or to secure his influence in slencing
those who are advocating a reduction in
duties. This will be difficult, if not i'm
possible, because President Mckinley, as
loyal protectionist as there is in the Re-
publican party, is himself of the opinion
that notifications in the tariff must be
made to meet changed conditions, and
that it is wise for the Republican party
to make them voluntarily at the next
Presidential campaign. In other words,
President Mckinley is strong believer
In the reciprocity theory and considers it
the best policy to promote the foreign
trade by exchanging tariff concessions
with the countries whose markets we are
seeking. He realizes that we have got to
cut down duties sooner or later and is in
favor of discriminating in the interest of
countries that reciprocate in a similar
manner"
This does not mean, however, that
Mr.. Mckinley takes Mr.. Babcocks view
of the tariff question. 1t simply means
that the President sees it is necessary
to throw a tub to the tariff reform
whale lest it swamp the Republican
j. ship. And he launches the same old
SVp-Reciprocity Reciprocity was the
y Ute theory of the late Mr.. Blaine
favorts done service as mask for
and protection ever since that keen
.ssauesman invented it. 1t may mean
something or nothing, just as you
please. but has generally meant moth
ing when advocated by the politicians
of the Republican party. Reciprocity
is a fine theory, but it is very diff
ferent thing from Mr.. Babcocks prop
osition to place the products of protect
ed trusts on the free list. Even Hanna
favors Reciprocity, although at the
same time he holds that the Dingley in
Equity is the best tariff law ever en-
acted "by the Congress of the United
States or any other legislative body
He says:
II appreciate the fact that industrial
conditions have changed considerably
since that law was passed, and that GER
tain notifications must be made sooner
or later by adjusting the rates of duties,
but these notifications must be done by
the men who framed the original law in
the interest of the industries which it was
intended to protect. For myself I think
it may be accomplished by the negotia-
tons of reciprocity treaties, and wherever
we remove or reduce the duties upon ar
ticles from any particular country, we
should try to induce the government of
that country to make equable concessions
in favor of our products In other words,
it is good policy to use this opportunity to
secure advantages for our agricultural and
mechanical exports in the foreign market.
! do not believe there is any general OPP
position to the principle of reciprocity in
Congress, although 1 admit that it is
sometimes difficult to adjust legislation to
please all conflicting interests. The fail
ure of the French reciprocity treaty at the
last session was due to misunderstand-
ing and rivalry between two committees
rather than opposition to its provisions or
the principle it represents
The Presidents tariff reform views
are the same as Mr.. Hanna's, and Mr..
Hanna's are the same as the trusts.
When the trusts demand tariff reform
the Republican leaders will demand it,
Until then Mr.. Babcock will have a
lonely and cherries time trying to en-
list Republican sympathy in Congress
for his plan to strip the trusts of the
protection" behind which they
squeeze two or three prices out OF the
American consumer.