Saint Mary's beacon., 1902-07-24


ling 70 the trusts, an announcement
has come from abroad which has
startled them like the handwriting
on tie wall If d 70 the effect that
the Car bas requested conference
Of the powers 10 take steps 20 elimi-
nate the trusts from their positi0a
as controlling factor in the prices
OF commodities. While the admin
istratiOn officials state that they do
not believe that European nafisss
can accomplish anything in this dis
Fection, they admit that II, as has
been suggested, the real purpose Of
the proposed conference is 70 inssi-
Eute q tariff war against this coun-
try, the results must prove dfsas-
trOus 20 American commerce and
industries. The prediction of ex-
Secretary Of the Treasury Gage,
who was q pronounced free trader
until he was tempted by an offer
Of a Cabinet position. that sooner or
laIer a tariff war against the United
States would be instituted, is recall
ed and adds weight 70 the sugges-
| ton already made, concerning the
intentions Of the Car. It is well
appreciated that any check to the
commercial prosperity which the
United States is now enjoying will
result in the defeat of the repnbli-
can party in 1904, and it is not an
ticipated that Mr. Roosevelt's anti
eiection threats against the trusts
will at all mislead the Car aud his
fellow sovereigns, whatever effect
they may have on the American
voters; therefore, the rumor Of a
tariff war strikes terror TO the hearts
of republican leaders, and republi-
can Office holders In Washington.
-
The greatest interest is manifest
ed by labor leaders and others in
the prospective building of a battle
| ship in the New York navy yard.
Despite the opposition of Senator
Hanna and other stock holders in
the ship building trust, the demo
Gratis in Congress secured provis-
ion in the Naval Appropriation Bill
that at least one battle ship should
be built by the Government. 1t has
long been claimed by the labor lead
ers that such a ship could be built
at less cost than If constructed by
private parties and they will watch
with jealous eye the progress of the
experiment. Against this claim
have been advanced the facts that
laborers in the government yards
work two hours less per day and
that they receive an annual leave ol
twenty-three days with pay, but
those who favor government con
struction maintain that these facts
viii be more than Offset by the pro
fits made by private contractors.
Now that the experiment is to be
made. it becomes the duty of the ad.
vocates of the system to closely watch
the proceeding with view to pre-,
venting fraud in the purchase ot
materials and in the charges made
for labor on this particular vessel
-
The republicans are taking great
credit to themselves because oil the
Presidents decision in the case o.
| General Jacob Il. Smith, whom Mr.
Roosevelt has ordered TO he immedi
ately retired In sodoing, however
they seem to lose sight of the fac
that had il not been for the publicity
given To the facts connected with
the Waller massacre, and the Smith
orders, by the democratic members
of the Senate, General Smith would
never have been courtmartialed non
would the attention of the Presiden;
ever have been called TO his coaduct.
In realitF, the action of the Presi.
dent is vindication of those demo.
Gratis whom the republicans have
been charging with malignipg the
army. If the exposure of such con
duct as that OF which General Smith
and Major Waller were guilty, con-
stitutes an attack on the army, then
the democrats were guilty of such
an attack, but il, as the President
maintains, their conduct was "a dis
grace to the army, then the demo
Gratis who endeavored to secure
their removal were the real friends
Of the army, rather than those re-
publicans who attempted primarily
to conceal, aud subsequently to de
fend their acts. I