Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-11-07
WASHINGTON LETTER..
(From our Regular Correspondent

Washington, Nov. 3.-There have
been many remarkable features about
the campaign just closed. The Presi-
dent and members OF the Cabinet have
been most positive in their promises of
reforms which the real leaders of the
party oppose and oppose vigorously.
Mr.. Moody has, on several occasions,
promised the immediate repeal of the
duty on anthracite coal, while Hanna,
Aldrich, Allison, ct al, have protested
that there must be no change In the
sacred tariff schedules. AttOrney-Gen-
eral Knox has been promising the peO-
pile that there would be additional leg
islation looking to the control of the
trusts. The real leaders have said,
half heartedly, that there would be a
change in present statutes If it was
demonstrated that such change was
necessary, but Mr.. Knox says unquali-
fiedly that such change is necessary
and points out the instances where he
has been unable to prosecute trusts be-
cause of the inadequacy of the law.
The President has caused it to be made
known that he intends to recommend
a bipartisan board to consider tariff
revision while Senator Hanna has as
sured the people they must ''stand
pat" and not permit any schedule to
be revised The Minnesota republic
cans have promised sweeping tariff re-
form and the eastern repu blicanS have
urged the reelection of the party be-
cause such reelection would prevent
tariff reform.
The democrats, however, haye ad-
hered to one issue and that is tariff re-
vision. They believe that the infant
industries have been nursed into trusts
by the tariff and they are anxious to
reduce that tariff in the interest of the
consumers. Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Cleve-
land and Mr.. Hill, all the ablest men
in the party In fact, have stated the
issue to be the same and have emphas-
lied the necessity of tariff reduction
for the welfare of. the country. That
the people have not heard the last of
the tariff or of the trusts is evident on
all sides and that they demand some
steps towards their relief is equally
evident. That many persons will vote
for the republican candidates with the
belief that they will effect the desired
ends is doubtless the case, but those
voters will have an opportunity to see
that no republican vote is ever cast
against the interests of the trusts and
the capitalists.
The gravest apprehension is felt in
administration circles over the state
ment which President Baer made to
the Anthracite Coal Strike Commits
sion, that there were numerous opera
tors in the anthracite field who were
not committed to the arbitration pro-
ceedings and who were not even con-
suited in the negotiations preliminary
thereto. We're it not for the fact that
the election is so close and that so
much hinged on the belief that the
coal strike was settled for three years.
it is more than probable that the Pres
ident would haYe communicated with
Mr.. Baer and asked him what he meant
by that statement, in view of his rep
resentatiOns at the White House. As
it is, the people believe that Mr.. Roose-
welt has settled the strike and it is de-
sired that they shall do so, at least
until after election.
The argument which it is feared Mr..
Baer and his associates, in the event
that the Commission finds against
them, will advance, is that 1t would be
of the President to ask
them to abide by the decision of the
without insisting on that
decisions being equally respected by
their competitors. Of course the Pres |
ident cannot insist on anything except
through Baer and the other railway
presidents who participated in the
conference and subsequent agreement
at the White House. The Commission |
has invited the other operators, those |
whom Mr.. Baer declares were ''in no
way compromised" by his agreement, |
to participate in the sessions of the
and to voluntarily SUBJ
nit themselves to the same inquisition
Is the railway presidents but there is
40 reason to believe that they will do |
20 unless Mr.. Baer and the other trust
insist and that they have
practically refused to do. There is no |
loubt but that the work of the COM
mission will be watched with painful
anxiety from Washington and it is |
more than possible that the next meet |
ng will bring out important develop
nent.