The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-11-22
BABCOCK AGAINST PRO-
lection.
Wants to Have a Large Free
List" and Many Republi-
cans Agree With Him.

heavy tariff on imported goods
under the provisions Ct the Nc
Skiuley Act. This odious mea-
ure allows our big manufacturers
10 sell goods in foreign markets
cheaper than We can buy them
ourselves here in this country
and protects them to the limit of
the duty imposed on foreign pro
duets.
The views Of many leading Re
puhllcans coincide in a certain
measure with those of the Demo
Gratis now as in regards to our
own people in the matter Of re-
duction of certain duties and it
is probable that a warm discus
sion Of these questions will take
place in Congress. \ Washing
ton dispatch to the Philadelphia
Record says:
There is an impression abroad
that the moSsback projections
lists are confronted with the fight
OF their lives. Changed con.
ditionS' have within a year
changed good many orthodox
high tariff Republicans into rank
free traders, though they make
use of the handy excuse OF
changed conditions" to con.
vince constituents and perhaps
themselves that it is only zee
iprocity which is now needed. or
al most a modification of some Of
the Dingley schedules"
Congressman Babcock's public
utteranceS vigorous and positive
as they are regarding The imme-
diate necessity for tariff modifica-
tiom, fall far short of indicating
the scope of his designs upon the
Dingley schedules If his private
/ utteranceS can be relied upon, lie
meant good deal more than he
was willing to have 90 out to the
public ust yet. Babcock makes
no secret of his conviction, when
talking among his friends, that
the time is about ripe for change
of Republican policy in dealing
with the tariff on foreign pro,
duets, not only in tie interest of
the country but Of the party as
we'll.
Like other Republicans who are
feeling for new ground, Babcock
Sturdily asserts that he is not a
free trader. Today he said: 81
believe III the old theory and pol
icy of protection, but there is no
reason i'll the world why certain
articles should he manufactured
i'll TINS country and sold abroad
cheaper than our own people
are obliged to pay for them. The
pllcv Of protection is not injured
by removing the tariff from such
goods" Notwithstanding his al
legged love for the old Republican
tariff theory III practice it is ev-
ident that Babcock is of a DIFF
tercnt mind and aims at changes.
Then after reciting reasons fol
a reduction OF duty on certain ar
ticleS, he proceeded: "The de
mand for these reductions is
growing and the Republican
party must take cognizance of it.
y reduction i'll the schedules
| propose would not in any way
/ affect the revenues of the govern
ment."
There are any number of Re-
publican leaders who privately
endorse Mr.. Babcock's views.
One of these said: "Bab. is right,
but | am afraid he is little toe
previous. Perhaps the party is
not ready to stand it. But there
is no gainsaying that eventually
it must. Babcock is blazing the
way for it, but he has secretly
many sympathizers in the Repub
lican party, men of power, too.
The fact is, many influential
Republicans, East and West, are
beginning to feel that nearly all
our manufacturing interests are
now beyond the need of tariff
protection. If our steel trust can
send its manufactured goods to
Europe and sell in competition
with the English trade, | take ii
as proof that free trade in iron
and steel will not hurt our folks.
They are become too strong to be
broken down by the underselling
of the foreigners, the bugaboo OF
Horace Greedy and the rampant
protectionists of Clay's time.
"And if our steel trust, as il
admittedly does, send its manu-
features to Europe and sells
there cheaper than i. does to ouI
own people, that is to me is d
much greater reason why the duty
on certain lines of steel and iron
should be entirely taken off or
| greatly reduced There is no