The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-04-03

less In the Hands of the Repub-
Iican O~liEarcDy.
1t has long been apparent that the
Republican party is threatened with a
serious schism On the tariff question.
The high p~rotectionists Of the Protec-
tive Tariff league and the Home Mar
ket club are determined to resist any
change in the Dingley tariff rates.
Even reciprocity to them is a delusion
and q snare to entrap the unwary Re
publican who votes for it, as it results
in a reduction of protection to some in
dustries they now enjoy.
The other and minor faction of the
Republican party is SO convinced of
fatal political results, If some conces-
sions to the trust ridden public are not
allowed, that 1t is willing to see q slight
reduction Of duties to appease the peo-
pie. There is also quite an element of
the Republican party in many Of the
states, headed by manufacturers, which
demands free raw materials, which
finds it cannot compete With England,
Germany and France in the markets
of the world unless these concessions
are granted it. These manufacturers,
Joined with a large number Of export
ers n dealers, are organized, and a
branch of their organization has head
quarters in Chicago and embraces the
most prominent men of Chicago, st.
Paul, Minneapolis and Duluth and has
also included in its membership many
others from all parts of the northwest
ern states. This organization has late
ly had in Washington it's attorney,
Hon. Eugene Hay Of Minneapolis, and
he voices it's sentiments and demands
in an interview in which he said:
"The people of the west are out Of
all patience with congress. They be-
lieve in the president. He has their
confidence as no president has had
since Lincoln. 1t was this belief in
him that saved to the Republicans the
congressional elections last fall, but it
is extremely doubtful if his influence
alone will save us in 1904. The peo-
pie reason that if as fearless, honest
and aggressive a president as Presi-
dent Roosevelt can do nothing to bring
a Republican congress to an under
standing of its duty, her no Republic
an president coulG. When they reach
this frame of mind, it requires no po-
litical seer to foretell the result. They
demand legislation to regulate the
trusts, and they demand intelligent tar
if legislation. y 9 = In the northwest
the people are not dissatisfied with,
their own representatives in the house
and senate. In the main they are well
satisfied with them, but they appreci-
ate that both they and the president
are powerless to influence legislation
under the vicious parliamentary sys-.
tenn that has grown up. This system
renders it possible for a few represent
atives. not Of the people, but of special
interests, to prevent needed legislation.
The representative OF senator who
could successfully lead a movement for
parliamentary reform would receive
the benedictions OF the American peo-
ple.n
Mr.. Hay and his organization eyi-
IDENTIFY do not appreciate the fact that
the oligarchy that has since 1897 con-
ltrolled congress will again be in com
mand whens-the Fifty-eighth congress
is organized, the only important
change being that Mr.. Cannon will be
speaker instead Of MI. Henderson.
The chairmen Of about all the impor-
tant committees, who have so much in
luence In reporting legislation. will
again be appointed, and the ultra pro-
lection gang will still be on top. Mr..
Hay and those whom he represents
will also have to disabuse their minds
of the fallacy that President Roosevelt
desires tariff reform, for he stated In
his speech at Cincinnati last fall that
the tariff did not AFFECT the trusts and
that protection must be preserved. If
President Roosevelt fayors tariff re-
form, he has never recommended 1t to
the present congress, nor will he to
the next He wants the Cuban reci-
procfty treaty ratified and may favor
the fisheries treaty, though that is
doubtful, for Senator Lodge, his chief
political adviser, is opposed to it. Pres,
ident Roosevelt has the reputation !
those who do not know him Of