Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-07-30

ton officials state that they do not
believe that the European nations can
accomplish anything in this direction,
they admit that il. as has been sug-
gested, the real purpose of the pro-
posed conference is to institute tariff
war against this country, the results
must prove disantrous to American
commerce and industries. The pre-
diction of ex-Secretsry of the treasury
Gage who WAS pronounced free
trader until he was tempted by an
offer of Cabinet position, that sooner
or later tariff war against the
Cni.ed States would be instituted, is
recalled and adds weight to the sug-
gestion already made, concerning the
intentions of the Car. 1t is wellsp-
precisted that any check to the COM
mercial prosperity which the United
States IN now ENJOYING, will result in
the defeat of the Republican in 1904,
and it is not anticipated that Mr.
Roosevelt's anti election threats
against the trusts will at all mislead
the Car and his fellow sovereigns,
whatever effect they may have on the
American voters; therefore, the rumor
of n tariff war strikes terror to the
hearts of Republican leaders. and
Republican office holders in Wash
ington.
The greatest interest is manifested
by labor leaders and Others in the
prospective building of battleship
in the New York navy yard. Despite
the opposition of Senator Hanna and
other stock holders in the ship build
ing test, the Democrats in Congress
secured provision in the Naval APP
preparation Bill that at least one bat
tleship should Toe built by the Gov
ernment. II has long been claimed
by the labor lesders that such Il ship
could he built ut less cost than if
constructed 10y private parties and
they will watch with Jealous eve the
progress of the experiment. Against
this claim nave been advanced the
facts that laborers in the government
ysrds work two hours less per day
and they receive AN annual leave of
twenty-three DAYS with pay, but those
who favor government construction
maintain that these facts will be more
than offset by the profits made by
private contractors. Now that the
experiment is TO he made. it becomes
the duty of the advocates of the syss
tenn to closely watch the proceedings
with view 10 preventing fraud in
the purchase of materials and in the
charges made for labor on this par
ticular vessel.
The Republicans are taking great
credit to themselves because of the
Presidents decision in the case of
General Jacob II. Smith, whom Mr..
Roosevelt has ordered to be immedi:
ately retired. In so doing, however,
they seem to loose sight of the fact
that had 1t not been for the publicity
given to the facts connected with the
Waller massacre and the Smith
orders, by the Democratic members
of the Senate, General Smith would
never have been conrtmartialed nor
would the attention of the President
ever have been called to his conduct.
la reality, the action of the President
is vindicator of those Democrats
whom the Republicans have been
charging with maligning the army.
If The exposure of such conduct as
that of which General Smith and
Major Waller were guilty,constituted
an attack on the army, then the Dem
ocrats were guilty of such an attack,
but if, AS the President maintains.
their conduct was ga disgrace to the
army" then, the Democrats who
endeavored to secure their removal
were the real friends of the army,
rather than these Republicans who
attempted primarily to conceal, and
subsequently to defend their acts.