The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-04
BLAST FROM
ROOSEVELT.
He Will Pour Hot Shot Into
the Anti-Cuban Con-
cession Ranks.
Babcock the Center Of. a
Storm That Is Growing
in Intensity.

From The Journal Bureau, Room 10, Post
Building, Warrington.
Washington, Feb. 4.-The differences of
opinion between the president and con-
gress regarding tariff concessions for Cuba
are expected to reach an acute stage
shortly through message to congress in
which the president will express his
views with characteristic vigor and
straightforwardness A number of lead
ing members of the senate say to-day that
such message is now being prepared
and their information is assumed to be
reliable. The talk of special message is
having something to do with the changing
sentiment in the house. The president
has had repeated interviews lately with
house leaders, including Speaker Hender-
son, Payne, Dalzell and Grosvenor, and
instead Of their converting him, they have
come away convinced that the presidents
position is Interchangeable. In such a con-
dition Of affairs the wise thing seems to
be to capitulate, and that is what the
house will do before many days, accord
ing to gossip to-day.
While strenuously protesting that there
has been no disposition TO sideIrack Cuban
reciprocity and rushing into interviews
to that effect, the ruling spirits of the
ways and means committee undoubtedly
hoped that that matter would be laid on
the shelf for this session, at least. 1t
would not be surprising if it were taken
up in committee before long or as soon as
the war revenue reduction bill is dis
posed Of.
REGULATORY Talk.
With the house so near and yet so far
from tariff reduction, as shown by yester-
days vote on the BacOck bill in the ways
and means committee, much retaliatory
talk is heard The high tariff men are
talking of how they would hit Babcock
a blow between the eyes should such a
measure ever get before the house, by
moving to abolish the duties on hides.
That is what the Massachusetts republi-
cans want. Furthermore, high tariff men
think they could administer solar pleXus
blow to Babcock by moving to restore the
duty on lumber as he has large personal
interests in the lumber industry. The
Wisconsin member does not seem to be
worried by any such threats. On the
other side of the fence equally defiant talk
is heard. Much Of it may be idle, but 1t
all shows to what nervous condition the
republicans have been brought by the
tariff agitation.
If Cuban reciprocity provision is
bill in the senate, the leaders in the beet
sugar interests are threatening to com
bine with the democrats and force re-
duction of duties all along the line. If a
reduction of duty on sugar is a good thing
say these men, 1t is also a good thing
for other industries.
These Republicans who want reduction
of duties with Cuba declare that Chairman
Payne is handling the question in a
statesmanlike manner, and while he must
ride the storm he is nevertheless doing
the only proper thing for him to do These
men add that with the war revenue taxes
abolished and Cuban reciprocity granted,
there will be a surplus OF some $4,000, 600
or more annually, which is enough.
BabcOck Would Step Aside
Another interesting phase of the contro-
versy is the bearing it may have upon the
selection of Babcock to continue next yea1
as chairman of the republican congress
sional committee. 1t has been under.
stood ell along that Babcock was toe
good party man ever to unite with the
democrats to secure a majority for his
tariff reduction bill, but high tariff repub.
Leans seem to have driven him to take
the step. There has been great deal Of
pressure upon Babcock ito take the man