Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-23

were advanced when the creation OF i.,,et is
tariff commission Of 1883 was proposeda
and which led to that commissions becom-s
Ing an accomplished fact. They seemed
en!nenilv sound they caught the popular
mind. and the public confidently hoped
i.r great things from the commission. $
work Tasen by and through. the com
mission was composed OF excellent ma
;erial. and Its investigation was scienti-
fic'. and thorough. II sat at various
places over the country; took great
mass OF testimony. heard the views OF
representatives of ali Industries and
vacations affected by the tariI.
and submitted to Congress re-.
port embodying many vital and praeti-ff
cal suggestions as TO reform. But what
was the ncs result? How did the out
come meet popular expectations? BY
bitterly Disappointing it. Never was
sci,n,iin.' Investigation OF an eco,omicss
o;,cs:;on more utterly discredted. The
ink was hardly dry on the commission, s.
report before the protected Interests
swooped down on, CONGRESS and tore thee
report ali to pieces Some OF those who
had been foremost In bringing the COM
mission into existence and loudpst In ex-
plotting the merits Of the plan were
among the firstSto turn and rend the re-
port end its authors, And what was the
i,::,iif:*:: There was not only no rcforH1.s
but under pressure from the Infant in-i
Gust,ics.'. an Increase OF the tariff
burdens in many directions Since
that dale the high protectionists<
have been reinforced by the trusts
which the tariff shields-which de-
pend virtually upon G tariff for
their lifc-ald the combination is an
hundred fold more powerful and influential;
IN the matter of controlling national.
iegis.atio than were the forces arrayed
against the report and the recommended
tons of the commission of 1883. Consider
ing what that combination has at stake.
is there any reason TO believe that the
report of the proposed new commission
would meet, with any better fate al the
hands of Republican Congress than did
rot.
Granting that President Roosevelt and
his supporters are sincere In claiming tc
be hopeful of practical results from las
movement. that it is not designed as a /,
beguilins propitiatoTy offering to the re-
vision sentiment in their own party, and
that 1t Is not play for breathing SPELL
during which it is trusted something will
turn up to 6evitalize the tariff issue. we
are taught by experience and the rela-
ton OF the trusts to the Republican party
that the President and his advisers are
pHrsring an ignis fatuus. But we are
not satisfied that the movement is a
intended as a time gamer, with .le view
at bottom of removing the tariff isue. IL
possible. from the arena Of public dis
cussion. thus abatins popular interest in
it. and robbing the Democratic party of
the strength it has been steadily gaining
any rate the Democracy Should take no
chances. They should stand prepared to
make the best use of any facts and
figures the commission may collect. but
MT to keep up the agitation mean-4
while. and not to keep 1t before the people
that only through Democratic control of
TIE Ito, eminent is relief from the tariff
and trust evils possible. would be mex
cusable plumbers. For our leaders to lend
themselves 10 the suggestion that Re
publican Congress will reform the tariff
upon the recommendation OF any commits
sion. no matter how Intelligent the latter.
or how scientific its Investigations.
would be Boeotian political stupidity. and
mean Il distinct. If not fatal falling back
in the race fer the goal of 1904.
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The wage raising on the part Of the rail-
reads doesn't seem TO be altogether al
tru,stic. 1t Is accompanied by an ad-s