Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-13
The Tariff and the Speakership.
The New York Tribune says.

Talk about tariff revision continues. We
are not sure that 1t Is not more eager and
profuse than before the election. Then 1t
was harped upon as a reason for returning
a democratic majority to the House of Rep
reSentatives; though as matter OF fact
the latter would have blocked the way to
tariff revision for at least two years. Now
the same theme is dwelt upon as bound to
command paramount attention at the COM
ing session and in the new Congress, and
as exerting great influence in the canvass
for the speakership of the House. 1t may
be that the latter discussion is more ra-
tional. or less inept, than the former. We
have no doubt that the question of tariff
revision will be thoughtfully and practically
considered by the republican majority IN
Congress. and also that candidates for the
speakership will be subjected to some scru-
tiny as to their opinions upon the subject.
But we greatly doubt that the net outcome
will be any more satisfactory to the foes of
the American system than was the outcome
of the election"
This Is correct appraisement of the sit
uation. Tariff revision talk does continue,
and it is likely to continue until some ac-
ton is taken by Congress on the subject.
And why not? 1t would be an affront to
the republican leaders of the west and the
northwest to assume that they Joined In
this talk before the election merely for cleo
ton purposes. Many expressed themselves
very frankly, and in effect pledged hearty
support In case of republican success at the
polls of any well-considered effort to make
the Dingley law square with the new con-
ditions which 1t has done so much to bring
about. Republican success was achieved,
and the time Is approaching, therefore,
when these men must make good" OF
course the talk continues, and Of necessity
the tariff issue will enter into the contest
for the speakership of the next House. The
candidates for that exalted and important
office will be interrogated on the subject
and will have to go on record.
No statement could be safer than Is the
Tribune's statement that the met outcome"
of all this matter will not be satisfactory
to the foes of the American system" The
men who are urging a limited and con-
sentative revision of the tariff are not enc
mics, but the friends of protection. They
were among the stancheSt of the supporters
of the Dingley law at the time of its enact
ment, and they have rejoiced in all that
has been accomplished with it's aid. They
are not asking that the law be broken down.
but only that it be changed to meet the
manifest needs OF the day The real enc
mics of protection-and more dangerous
than the confessed free traders-are the
men who are insisting that nothing should
be done, and that nothing can even be at
tempted by the party of protection without
putting the business interests in grave peril.
To follow their lead will be to raise up
enemies in nearly every quarter.
The republican party has revised the tariff
a number of times in the past forty years,
and never to the injury of business The
reason was that 1t had protection always
in mind, and the business interests had no
cause for alarm. Why then not another re-
vision by the same party, now as at all
times, the champion OF protection, and hav-
ing only an equalization of protection BEN
efits in view?