Evening star., 1902-08-06
VERMONT CAMPAIGN OPENS.
Secretary Shaw Was the Chief Speaker
at Manchester.

The political campaign in Vermont, which
| is considered an extraordinary one by rea-
son of the boiling faction in the republican
party, headed by Percival w. Clement,
contesting against Gen. j. G. Mccullough
the regular republican nominee for gov
ernor was opened at Manchester in Gen.
McCullough's behalf last night The chief
speaker was Secretary Of the Treasury
Leslie NJ. Shaw, native of the state, and
he dealt entirely with national questions,
largely that of the tariff. Representative
]. G. Foster presided and United States
Attorney ]. L. Martin of Brattleboro and
Representative Charles n. Fowler of New
Jersey were the other speakers.
Secretary Shaw in the opening reviewed
the record Of the democratic party say
ing in this connection that the leaders OF
the party always appear to be in search or
an issue which will appeal to voters ana
give them victory, rather than making an
effort to formulate a policy under which
they may be safely intrusted with the az
fairs of the nation.
He said that the tariff issue is always
resorted to by the democratic party to
provide an issue, except in those years I'M
mediately following an experiment with
tariff for revenue only. In those years he
said they had been driven to other issues
to bridge over the period between the date
of their experiments and the forgetfulness
of the American people. He doubted II the
democratic party, or any member of 1t,
would today venture to predict what would
be the paramount issue of the presidential
campaign.
Secretary Shaw then referred to the
democratic partys attitude toward free sill
YER and the greenback issues, and contin-
uing, said now the democratic party lays
great stress on the trust question. 1t is re-
iterated and reiterated that the tariff is
the mother of trusts, and the democracy
again promises reform.
He referred to arguments advanced by
both parties in 1889, and in succeeding cam
paigns, until the Mckinley bill was passed.
Secretary Shaw said he was doubtful il
any tariff schedule had been devised satis-
factorily in every particular to any person.
The republican party never attempts to
defend a tariff schedule, but does defend
the protective principle. 1t Is probable. he
said, that many items Of the present tariff
schedule should be modified, but no modi-
fication could be made that would not still
leave many items in dispute. Wilson's bill,
passed in 1894. was so unsatisfactory that
President Cleveland refused to sign it. The
question is not whether there are inaccu-
| racies, inequalities OF imperfections in the
present law, but whether 1t Is wise to at
tempt revision at this time. 1t Is idle to
suppose that any revision would satisfy
those who have no revision policy of their
| own. No policy Of legislation, no foreign
policy, no insular policy, no expansion pol
| icy, no Philippine policy Is or ever will be
| devised that will satisfy the opposition.
In concluding, Mr.. Shaw said:
doing that which 1t believes to be wisest
for party and people When this has been
done, and no concession made to demo-
cratic clamor, the people have never failed
to vindicate the republican party, the
party of progress"