The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-18
HENDERsoN,s WITHDRAWAL.

When the Republican politicians OF
Iowa in state convention framed the
trust plank of their platform they were
doubtless convinced that the clause re-
ferring to the possibility of the tariff
sheltering monopoly would have an
swered all their purposes of evasion.
They have had rude awakening
through the action of Speaker Hender-
son in declining a denomination.
1t will at once occur to the ordinary
mind that Speaker Henderson may
have been influenced by the fact that
his opponent in the contest would have
been the former Democratic governor
of the state, Horace Boies, but Demo-
Gratis generally will unite with Repub-
Hcans in the belief that personal anx-
iety over the possible result Of the
contest was not main factor in caus-
ing Speaker Henderson to decide upon
withdrawing.
The action of Mr.. Henderson will
result in directing national attention to
the wide gulf which separates the two
parties on the subject of the tariff.
That gentleman declares himself to be
out of touch with the voters of his dis
trict on the subject. He declares him
self to be opposed to tariff revision,
while in his Judgment the mass Of his
constituents, Republicans and Demo-
oy,iff
His claim in this latter regard will be
vigorously disputed by those who speak
for the national administration, as it
has already been disputed by the pres
ent Republican governor Of the state
Of Iowa. The only reasonable view OF
the situation, however, is that Speaker
Henderson is man of sound political
judgment; that he Is both unwilling
and unable to close his eyes or his
mind to the existing condition Of SEN
timent on the subject Of the tariff and
unwilling that his probable defeat,
were he to make the campaign, should
be charged to any lack of personal
popularity on his part among his con-
stituents, rather than to it's true cause
their unwillingness to indorse his
position as a radical protectionist.
The situation in Speaker Hender-
sons district, as viewed by him, is the
situation in every Northwestern con-
gressional district. The mass Of con-
sumers find themselves confronted by
the obligation to pay unprecedentedly
high prices for almost every article of
commerce. They are settled in the
conviction that this is due, in greatest
measure at least, to the fact that most
of those commodities are subjects of
protection, and that the market for
them is controlled by the trusts.
These trusts, the people believe, would
not possess such control We're there al
lowable under the existing tariff law
even the possibility Of foreign COM
petition. They regard the existing
tariff as protecting those trusts against
foreign competition, while the trust or
CARNATIONS themselves are in a po-
sition to defy competition in domestic
markets.
1t is not surprising under such cir
cumstances that the masses outside
the large industrial centers of the East
should be, as they are, demanding a
lowering Of the tariff bars. Speaker
! Henderson does not believe in an al
| lowance Of that demand, and hence his
| retirement. The national administra-
ton and the party which it represents
are now confronted by the necessity Of
| choosing either to stand on the position
assumed by Speaker Henderson or to
| recognize and respect the popular de-
mand for tariff reform which, finding
| expression among his immediate con-
stituents, deter him, leading national
| official, from abiding by the verdict of
those constituents on the subject of
| the tariff issue.