The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-27
LAYING OUT The
CAMPAIGN WORK
Mr.. Shaw on the Tariff, the Presi-
dent on Trusts, Root on
Imperialism.
The President Said to Have Reviewed
49, Mr.. shaw's Tariff Speech
:. Carefully.
The Time Not Considered 0pportune
to Take Up That Great
Disturber. i'll

,,!!, Fron TIE e. .1o,srnas Bureau. Room <s. Pes>
Washington, Aug. 27.-True to the plan
announced some time ago. Secretary
Shaw in his campaign speeches thus far
has confined himself to the tariff, while
the president in his round of speech max
ing in New England has paid more atten-
tion to the trusts. 1t Is presumed that
Secretary Root, after his return home, will
cake the stump and give us something
about the Philippines and Imperialism. In
this way the people are to know in de-
tall the administration views on all Of
these great questions. It is already ap-
parent that so far as the tariff Is con-
cerned the administration policy, as out
lined by Secretary Shaw, is not radical
enough to suit the western states, al
though 1t will ultimately be recognized as
striking happy mean between the views
of that section and of the ultra protec-
zionist east. The president is president
OF the entire country. and obviously does
not care to commit himself unnecessarily.
He thinks that the time has come when
there should be some amendment of the
tariff law, but as president he must take
into account the conflicting state of pub
lie sentiment, and not lend himself too
far to either side Of the controversy in his
official utterances or in those of his cab
met officers. = @
Secretary Shaws tariff addresses in
appointing in the west, I am able to say
on the highest authority, were reviewed
by the president prior to their delivery.
Read in connection with this statement
1t Is easy to understand that the chances
for a message to congress recommending
revision are rather remote. Indeed, the
| subject may not be mentioned at all, and
If mentioned, 1t may be In purely formal
manner The president is not willing to
| assume responsibility at this time for
plunging his party into a redhot contro-
versy on tariff questions. Later on he
may take a decided stand, but it Is begin
ming to be apparent that he thinks the
present moment is not opportune. =
f. So far as the presidents own speeches
cate any new arguments pro or con on
the trust question. He has been handling
| the question very diploma tically, with
| gloves so to speak, and seems content
to wait until the courts have tested the
sufficiency Of the present: laws before
| urging action at the hands Of congress. II
the New England speeches are any in
dex. Of the president s. intentions so far as
| his message in December is concerned,
| they show that he VIII discuss the trust
question in that document carefully, and
i refrain from making any new, recon-
mendations as to Legislation.
| This, perhaps, is the best thing that
l
presidential campaign is coming on Rad
ical action at the hands of congress, or
a presidential recommendation of such ac-
| ton, might stir up a great confusion in
the business world, especially If, as may
happen, the courts hold the present laws
sufficient In advance of decisions in the
beef trust and the railway merger cases
the president is believed to be in favor OF
the exercise of caution. =. -.
Incidentally, this policy conservatism
is astonishing the people of the east, who
have been referring to Roosevelt for
months as a ''broncho buster" and pre-
dieting that before the end Of his, term
he would have the entire country by the
ears, both as to the tariff and as to the
trusts It will be worth a good deal, so
far as the moral effect on the 1904 cam
paign is concerned, to have these eastern
ers convicted false prophets. -. But
whatever the presidents reasons. he is
doing nothing at present, either through
Secretary Shaw or in person, to make
good the predictions of his Wall street
| enemies.
| w WzTerroa