The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1902-11-20
Tariff Rcformers.

number of Congressional districts in
into believing that the members OF
Congress they have elected Will vote
I 10 amend the tariff law and control
the trusts. The candidates promised
that If n Republican majority was
elected the tarSf and trust issue would
be settled by those who are the friends
of protection, and there would be no
disturbance of business. Some OF
these Republicans who have been
elected To Congress on the faith in
their promises We're no doubt sincere
and will strive to carry them out, but
that they will accomplish any such
results is out of the question. Those
candidates who have been reelected
to Congress and have had experience
in the workings OF the ruthless ma
chine must have known that any such
promises Were worthless and We're
only given to once more fool their con-
stituents into re-electing them. That
this Is a fair statement of facts Is
certain when 1T is considered that Con
gress is run by a majority of the domi-
nant party, and that individual Con-
gressmen have no opportunity given
them to even have their ideas consid-
cred unless the party managers think
such are desirable.
When the next Congress meets in
December. 1903, the caucus of the Re-
publican members will decide who is
10 be speaker. He will appoint the
committees. and If the majority shall
decide that the tariff is not to be re-
formed. the speaker will carry out
their wishes. He will appoint Com
mittee on Ways and Means. to whom
any tariff bill must be referred, who
will all be reliable protectionists and
who believe that nearly all the trusts
are good trusts. and should be aided
rather than hindered In their career
of piling up profits at the expense Of
the people. The Republican Congress
man who believes in tariff reform. to
any extent, will be helpless. He may
introduce bill, like Mr.. BabcOck did
in the beginning of the present Con
gress. to reform the iron and steel
schedule. but it will be buried. like
that notable production, in the grave
of tariff reform hOpes-the Ways and
Means Committee. If our new Con-
gressman is insistent to have his bill
considered. which. like Mr.. Babcock,
he will probably not be, all will be Sc
rene; he will be favored in other mat
tiers. SO that his constituents may be
partially satisfied. If he demands
that his, or some similar bill, be con-
sidered and reported so that he may
have an opportunity to record his vote
and thus show his sincerity to his con-
stituents, he will be cut off from par
ticipation in all the inside advantages
of belonging to the majority party and
be treated much more discourteously
than the members of the Democratic
minority. Only in the almost impos-
sible event Of enough Republican mem
bers joining with the Democrats to
make a majority and then voting to
order the Committee on Ways and
Means to report bill to amend the
tariff law, will it be possible to have
a yea and nay vote recorded ON such
proposition.
1t will be interesting to watch the
actions of those Republican Congress
men from Iowa. Minnesota and other
States that have succeeded in deluding
their farmer constituents into believ-
Ing that the tariff will be revised by
its friends.
If the people of any Congressional
district want the tariff revised. they
must bring pressure to bear on the
Congressman they have elected to
compel MIN to carry out their wishes.
1t will require a good deal Of back
bone for Republican Congressman
to stand up and fight for even trust
productions to be placed upon the free
list.