Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1902-08-29
THE WASHINGTON LETTER.

HA@ WV So AAN ~ - ~ - . A"tNA
The secretary of agriculture, who
returned from the west on Friday
and left almost Immediately to take
part in the campaign 10 the New
England states, informed your CORE
spondent that the. most prosperous
conditions existed In national politics,
the people were too well satisfied to
desire any change When asked to
define the tariff plank in the Iowa
republican platform, he said that il
meant that the people desired some
modification of the tariff schedules.
That in this time Of plenty they con-
sidered such modification could be
judiciously made. That while true
to the principles Of projections, they
believed there were certain industries
which no longer needed the same
protection that was essential to their
prosperity when the Dingley law was
enacted and they expected the party
to modify those schedules. They
were particularly desirous of a modi-
ieation Of the schedules affecting
trust made articles but were con-
WINGED that any revision of the tariff
could be intrusted only to the repub-
lican party. Speaking Of the presi-
dent, he said that the people of that
section were all enthusiastic in his
support and even the democrats APP
proved Of him and many expressed
the wish that he was their leader in
stead Of the leader of the republicans.
"Mr. Roosevelt" continued the sec
retary, "is the type Of man which
westerners love. He is fearless, hon
est and brilliant. They are for him
to q man. They regard with the
greatest approval his attempt to reg
ulate the trusts. They consider that
he is following the rational path in
his effort to secure that regulation
through the courts and by means OF
the Sherman law. If that should
prove defective, they believe Mr.
Roosevelt will so inform congress,
pointing out its defects, and that
congress will promptly remedy them.
Such a course, they say, is in marked
marked contrast TO the revolutionary
methods advanced by democratic
leaders who would seek to destroy
the trusts by a radical revision of
the tariff, thereby throwing hundreds
of men outof employment, rendering
worthless the investments of thous-
ands of business men and undermin-
ing the general prosperity with which
the country is blessed"
Recent statements made at the
republican campaign headquarters
indicate that the leaders are feeling
some apprehension at the outcome
Of the fall elections and from a cur
ious cause. They say that the very
widespread prosperity is likely to
prove a menace to republican success
for the reason that the people are all
unusually busy and many good re-
publicans are too liable to feel an un-
warranted security and, therefore,
leave it to their republican brethren
to go the polls and vote. Experience
in the past years has shown that this
apprehension is not groundless. 1t
has not been unusual for the demo-
Gratis to poll 80 per cent. of their vote
in off years while the republicans
polled but 20 per cent. With a Me-
Kinley or a Roosevelt at the head of
the ticket, there would be no such
danger, for every republican would
be proud to go to the polls and cast
his ballot for such a leader, but with
only a congressman, or at most a
governor to vote for, there is danger
that the full republican strength will
not brought out. 1t, therefore, be-
hooves every good republican TO vote
this fall in order that the prosperous
conditions which now prevail and
the wise policies which the party has
inaugumted may be continued.
1t has been stated this week by a
gentlemen who was high in the coun-
sells of the Mckinley administration,
that, contrary to the oft published
statements, President Mckinley
never made any promise Of reciproc-
ity tothe Cuban representatives who
asked him to do so in return for their
adoption Of the Platt amendment as
part Of the Cuban constitution. On
the contrary, Mr. Mckinley care
fully and patiently explained the
constitutional relations existing be-
tween the president and congress.
He told the delegates that he him
self favored reciprocity with the new
republic and that he would use such
influence as be might have with con.
gress 10 that end, but he was extreme.
ly carelnl not 90 convey an erroneous
impression of the facts and. If such