The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-21
An Old Interview With Mr.. Cannon
on Trusts and Tariff Is
Exhumed.
He Asks why Demoralize Business
by Attacking the Present
Schedules?'
Nothing Sacred About the Tariff,
but Prosperity Should Not
Be Jeopardized.
FroDt The Journal Bureau. Room IS, Poa
Ra.;I HnahinufOl.

From, The Journal Bureau. Room IS, Poa
Building, Warrington.
Washington, Nov. 21.-In August, be-
fore Speaker Henderson had announced
his intention of leaving congress- Rep
resentative Cannon passed through Wash
ington on his way homo from New York,
where he had been watching the naval
maneuvers. He was interviewed by the
Washington Post on the tariff and the
trusts, and what he said makes interest
ing reading in view Of subsequent de-
veopments In reply to question whether
he would recommend to his constituents
that congress revise the tariff, he said:
Nay nay; why should l make such
a promise? There is nothing sacred about
the present tariff schedule, but it is al
ways demoraizing to business to have con-
gress begin the work of revising the tar
If. The manufacture waits to see what
will be the result, working only on orders.
The merchant buys only what he feels
certain he can sell, and the ordinary con-
sumner buys only what he needs. Every
body waits to see what will be the result.
for nobody knows In advance just what
changes will be made. 1t always means
at least a year Of uncertainty. and I don't
believe the people Of this country want a
year of uncertainty just now to check the
prosperity we have.
1.-The tariff will be revised some time,
but not at the next session Of congress
or by the succeeding congress unless there
is check to the present prosperity.
The people of Illinois, so far as I have
been able to learn, are not anxious for a
revision of the tariff. They are anxious
to continue their business affairs without
the interruption caused by long dis
should be made
Mr.. Cannon referred to the trusts in this
way:
"A pound of action is worth more than a
ton OF denuncation and President Roose-
welt has given moro than the pound.
He has hailed the Northern Securities
company into court and the case is now
ready for trial. The democrats may de-
nounce trusts, but they have done nothing
to curb or to regulate them. A republican
congress passed the Sherman anti trust
act. and republican president is trying
to use it, He did not wait for complaint
or prompting. AS soon as the Northern
merger was effected, by which two great
parallel lines Of railroad were to be con-
solidated and destroy competition Presi-
dent Roosevelt directed the attorney GEN
eral to begin legal action. I fancy the
democrats will have little ammunition for
AN antitrust campaign by the time the
court hears this case set for the first week
IN September. In fact, don't know what
the democrats are going to do with their
multiplicity OF issues on none Of which
they are able to agree as of paramount
Importance"
The foregoing must be accepted as Mr.
Cannon's position on both of these great
issues 49,.
At the same time it is believed he will
fall In line with President Roosevelt when
the time comes for the executive to take
stand on the tariff. Mr. Roosevelt ia =
vors revision, but is anxious to throw it
over until after the presidential election
on the theory that the party cannot af-
ford to take up trusts and tariff at the
same time just ahead of a presidential
campaign.
One, and possibly both, under such a
plan, would be incomplete at the time of
the campaign, and the opposition would
again have the opportunity to deceive
the public as in 1892. Mr.. Roosevelt wants
to take up one at time, and to follow
with the tariff as soon as the trusts are
disposed of. That would throw revision
over until after election. However, the
reVfSloniSts are not especially discour-
aged by the efforts of the adminstrat ton
to discourage tariff agitation at this
time. They are bound to round up and
make showing. The result will be gen
eral debates in both houses of congress
this winter dealing largely with tariff
topics as we'll as with trusts. They are
already casting about for recruits and
claiming progress from several states,
notably Iowa, Minnesota and Rhode
Island. The campaign this winter will
be In the direction Of reinforcing the
sentiment over the country that the time
protection lines in accordance with the
promises made to many constituencies in
the summer and autumn campaign.
w. w Jernane