Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-08-09
Instructors For Republican Orators.

that the republican party means to
make a mighty effort to retain its
majority in the House Of Representa-
tiyes. and also implies that the party
leaders believe such an effort is neces-
Sary. This line OF fertilization is a
sort of confession of weakness that
shrewd democrats will not be STOW to
recognize. The subject matter OF the
campaign book, as outlined in the
Washington dispatch printed in The
Times of this morning, is, hardly
what was expected of such a guide for
party orators at this time 1t glori-
ties the history of the republican or
ganization, devotes much space to the /
defense OF the protective tariff, makes
the protective system responsible for
prosperity, endeavorS to show that the
party has consistently opposed trusts,
defends the Philippine policy and the
gold standard legislation, extolS the
diplomacy employed in the Chinese
war, cOmmendS the mpliShmentS
of Congress in the last session,
| furnishes appropriate extracts from
the addresses and messages of Presi-
dent Mckinley and President Roose-
yelt, and gives other quotations that
may be useful to the campaign speech
! makers. OF course, many OF the
points made are both sound and
strong. but the whole exposition
seems to be along conventional repub-
lican lines. If anyone expected the
definition of new policy touching
the great issues of tariff reform and
opposition to trust exactionS, he must
experience disappointment.
There have been reasonable grounds
for such expectations. Both Presi-
dent Mckinley and President Roose-
velt are on record as advocates of
making such tariff reductions as
would remove superfiuouS protective
duties and thereby encourage an ex-
pansion of international trade Many
republican leaders have openly and
asSertively declared that the tariff
should be removed from trust-made
goods furnished the foreign purchasers
at lower prices than are exacted of
can newspapers have taken the same
ground. But the outline of the cam
paign book suggests that one of the
chief motives of defining the argu-
mentS for the orators was to prevent
discussion of these things on the
stump. The high protection element
seems to be in control of the Congress
Sional committee. This is not SO
surprising as it would have been be-
fore the lgnoble recantation of Mr..
Joseph W. Babcock, chairman Of the
committee, few days ago.
1t will be remembered that Repre-
sentative Babcock made a reputation
as a vigorous tariff reformer, that be
introduced and championcd bill to
take the tariff off iron and steel pro-
ducts, and declared that the party
would be dreated if it did not enact the
measure. His sincerity was not
doubted until few days since, when
he defended the protective duties and
the monOpollstic system that enable
the eXactiOn of higher prices in
America than are commanded in
foreign markets for protected Ameri-
can goods. cit is only rule of trade, -
he said, 'that the surplus products
must go cheaper to the foreigner.
| We are not afraid to ask the country
to continue the republican party in
power in order that these policies
may continue in effect.'' Whatever
faith was aroused in the promise that
| the tariff WOULD be ''revised by its
friends" received severe blow when
Mr.. Babcock recanted.
The real significance of the, cam
paign book, so far as it touches the
great issues of the time, lies in its i'm
piled ''dont's." Indirectly the orators
are restricted about as follows:
Don't admit that there is anything
wrong with either the system or any
specific application of the protective
tariff.
Don't admit that protection is in
any way responsible for either the
existence or the strength of the trusts.
Don't regard the trusts as a very
serious matter.
Don't admit that the consumers
have rights that should take prece-
dence of those of the class whose cap:-
tai is invested in industry or com
merce.
Don't admit that the removal of
I the tariff from trust-made goods would
be a good antitrust measure.
Don't admit anything in the way of
tariff reform or trust regulation that
the republican party has not already
accomplished in these directions, and
Don t admit that any party under
any policy could have accomplished
more.
These seem to be the real purposes
of the book OF instructions. If the
campaign workers and the party are
subservient to these rules and regula-
lions there is, indeed, little hope that
the tariff will be revised by it's
friends or that the trusts will be
ourhnd i1v their. DnalSprS- Kansas CifV