The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-10
Republican Gains in the Late Elec-
ton Were Made in the Agri-
8, cultural Districts.
Ante Election Promises Made-The
Effect of the speakership
+ on Revision.
The President Said to Be Opposed
to Delay-Politicians May
Be Otherwise.

Fron, TIE Journal B,:rean. Room 80. PEG
Building. HashtB0ton.
Washington. Nov. 1O-Shall there be
an extra session OF the ffty-eighth con-
gress next spring, to begin the work OF
tariff revision. or shall the matter go over
until after the presidential campaign, a
tariff commission being appointed mean
while to take the question up and prepare
report for congress in December, 1904?
1t Is an open secret that in every close
district in the north the republican man
ayers were compelled to instruct their
speakers to promise revision at an early
day. In these districts the tariff was the
principal issue, and the independent
voters wanted to know what the repub-
lican party proposed to do about it. These
instructions were made after careful re-
view Of the situation, and because there
was nothing else that would answer.
! The personnel OF the fifty eighth con-
gress will make tariff action easier than
it would be in the present body. Repub-
1ican gains in the late election were made
in the agricultural districts; the losses
occurred In the cities. In other words,
there will be in the next congress a larger
republican revision vote than there Is in
this one. The agricultural voter, as a
rule, favOrs lower duties; the city voter,
higher duties. Each Is controlled by sell
fish Interests. The agricultural COM
munity never sees where it gains any
thing directly from protection, and 1t
views the gradual increase in pricese with
hostility. The city community is more or
less under the influence Of the protected
manufacturer, who sees continue ton Of
prosperity and big profits SO long as the
duties are not lowered. The manufac-
turer creates sentiment wherever he can
among his employees and the laboring peo-
pie generally, who furnish the bulk Of all
city voters, and republican con-
Bressmen from this territory are al
most invariably against revision. Con-
Bressnen from the agricultural districts,
on the other hand, are almost invariably
IN favor OF revision. Republican losses in
the cities this year were made up by
gains In the country, and to that extent
there will be an increase Of revision sen
t1ment In the ffty-eighth congress among
republicans, as compared with that SEN
tlment in the present congress-
But what will be done?
| Conservative men are already begin
nlng to say that the republican party will
not ask for a special session next spring
but will walt until year from this time
when the fifty eighth congress is about tc
meet regularly and then begin to talk in
favor OF the appointment of a. tariff com
mission, which will be kept busy over the
presidential campaign. Such action or
Its face would be a slight victory for the
Rnt1-revisionists, although 1t would onl,
postpone action for a time: but it nigh,
De compromise ground on which both
sides could unite.
The more radical tariff reformers arnons
republicans are saying that the presiden
Will be strongly urged in his MESSAGE neg
month to take notice of the sentiment II
FAVOR OF revision, as 1t was deyelopec
through the republican congressiona
committee, and to promise a special ses
zion next March. If there is no specia
session there will be no revision unit
after 1904. That is admitted on all sides
opinion between these two positions il
pretty equally divided at this time. /
Is not divided, however, regarding tn,
proposition that the congressional cleo
ton was won this year on the def1nit,
promise Of the republican managers tina
revision would be brought about, addet
TO the Well-knoWn fact that the presiden
at heart 1avors 1t. This will be sufricien
TO accomplish the result: the only ques
lion, as already stated, Is when will tn
work be taken up?