Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-13
FOR REVISION OF TARIFF
Chairman B. bcock's View of
Elections Meaning to Republicans.
and His Action OF the Coal
Strike Did Much for the
Party.

On every hand are preparations for the
assembling of the second session of the
| 9Th Congress, and the presence of many
representatives liz a reminder that busi-
ness soon will be resumed on Capitol Hill,
| says q Washington special to the Now
York World. The first Monday of De-
cember will come on the first day Of the
| month, Just three weeks from Monday
next, and as many of the senators and
representatives have homes here, the
| time for making them ready for ocCu-
nancy is short enough.
Mr.. Bahcock of Wisconsin is one of
those having homes in Washington, and
he &c now there enjoying a rest from the
abors Of the campaign. lie Is being men
toned as a probable candidate for the
| speaker ship but he does not permit him
self to be drawn into conversation on that
| subject. 1t IL too far ahead for serious
activity, and with a session OF Congress
| intervening, the speakership must neces-
aarily be largely matter for speculation.
| One year ago, when the House was in
process of organization, with q speaker
already determined on. the wrangle was
confined to the formation Of the principal
standing committees. and there was
vehement demand from the high protec-
ton wing OF the Republican party that
Mr.. Babcock should not be again ap-
| pointed a member OF the ways and means
committee.
| nat CeIllHnu was rTldQe tOT tne TcdSCn
that Mr.. Babcock had given offerse to
| the high protectionists in proposing a
| measure intended TO reduce duties on
manufactures Of iron and steel Mr.. Bah
cock. however. was appointed to the ways
and means and revived his bill, which Is
still pending before the committee. AS
Mr.. Babcock adheres to his belief that
| there should be reduction in many OF
the duties prescribed in the existing law,
he surely will encounter determined op
position from those members who differ
from him on this subject in case he shall
become an active candidate for speaker.
With regard to the significance of the
result OF Tuesdays election Mr.. Babcock
docs not agree with his high protection
associates. instead OF being an indica-
ton that tariff revision is net demanded,
Mr. Rabcock believes the elections mean
that the people desire revision Of duties
and reductions wherever reductions can
he made without injury to American in
dustries
Tuesdays elections clearly show"
said Mr.. Babcock. that tho people want
TO live two more years under an admins
tration that will be republican in all its
branches. If the democrats had won, Il
would have signifed that the people
wanted no tariff revision for the next two
years, as it would have been impossible
to accomplish anything in that direction
witi democratic House and republi-
can Senate. The people expect the next
Congress to undertake tariff revision, and
they expect revision to be made on repuo-
iican principles"
With regard to the outcome of the re-
cent Congress elections, Mr.. Rabcock
said IL was natural to look for republican
losses In the large cities. where so many
men depend on salaries and days wages
The party In power IL held responsible
for the ills that may be prevalent. and
this year the high prices of many of the
ana IN mn a
that obtains with regard to coal. making
that commodity difficult to get even at
exorbitant and unprecedented prices, OPP
Grated against the republicans and lost
them members In Boston, Providence,
New York, Baltimore. Chicago and other
cities But in the agricultural districts
the republicans made gains because the
high prices for farm products helped the
, | agriculturist.
Then there was the personal popular
ity of President Roosevelt" said Mr..
Rahcock. The people in every section of
. the country regard him as honest, fear
less and energetic in his efforts to do the
thirgs which are for the best interests of
the people, regardless of what the effect
may be on any particular interest. The
Tuesday vote was a>splendd Endorsement
; of the President.
THE coal strike was like black cloud
on the political horizon. The Presidents
timely and vigorous handling of the mat
ter, resulting satisfactorily, blow that
cloud away. There was undoubtedly a
loss OF votes to the party by reason of the
high price OF fuel because of the strike,
but that loss was nothing in proportion
to what II undoubtedly would have been
had November arrived with the strike
still, in progress. the price Of fuel going
up and none In sight II the cloud which
was visible on the horizon had been al
lowed to come nearer, there is no telling
what the result might have been.
zone Of the very gratifying signs of the
! times is the political evolution OF the
: West Since 1896 the free-slver fallacy
has been on the wane, and at each cleo
, ton since that time In 1895 the Republi-
can party polled from 20 to 20 per cent OF
the vote in Idaho and Montana, in 1856
from 30 to 40 per cent in 1900 A per cent,
and at the Tuesday election is was over 50
, per cent. while the two members whom
we got from Colorado were entirely un-
expected. It IS in that section. too, that
the influence OF tho President was felt
, His popularity unuuestionably had much
: to do with the vote In these States
, Representative Prince of Illinois agrees
with Mr. Babcock In the opinion that tie
: popularity OF President Roosevelt had
much to do with giving the victory to the
I republicans.
"ge is the most popular man In public
life in this country" said Mr.. Prince. Il
sincerely believe that II it had not been
for his aggressive action in the anthra-
, cite coal strike the republicans would
, have lost the next Congress. The Presi-
dents popularity is increasing every day
, He has the call and before the people
his honesty. sincerity. vtgor and ability
nre making him stronger constantly"