Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-11-24
Republican Schisms.

Reciprocity, much more tariff re-
form, is like a red rag before a bull
with the Republican protectionists.
The American Economist, the organ of
the Protective Tariff League, is de-
nouncing those Republicans who favor
Cuban reciprocity and branding those
who think that the schedules that fos-
ter the trusts should be reduced or
abolished as traitors to their party and
country 1t is entertaining to read
these diatribes and know that the leav-
en- is working which will surely over
throw monopoly, for protection cam
not exist long under full discussion of
its evils and reputed virtues. Directly
the over-production, that necessarily
lack o. demand, the goose is killed that
lays the golden egg, or is so crippled,
poor thing, that her nest is empty.
Thus it is with protection, it begets a
bogus prosperity that destroys itself,
or renders it inconsistent. The Econo-
mist sees all this, but argues against it
and is as much opposed to the friends
of protection revising the tariff as that
the Democrats should do so. In fact,
it hints, if the deed is to be done, it
would prefer the latter calamity.
That the Economist and the League
and its Republican followers are trou-
bled in spirit and fear the attitude of
few Republican tariff reformers may
be judged by what the Economist said
in its issue of Oct. 80:
and unless this craze among Re-
publicans for tariff ripping is checked
by Republicans we shall be found trav-
cling the same road as in 1892, with
another tariff ripping Democratic Pres
ident in the White House and another
tariff ripping Congress at the other end
of Pennsylvania avenue"
In the same article from which the
above is quoted, after speaking of the
reciprocity views of President McKin-
ley, it adds:
HE would never have urged such a
policy upon Congress- Much less would
he have called an extra session as a
means of forcing it through"
That slap in the face is intended for
President Roosevelt and shows how
these Republican brethren are not al
together dwelling in unity. OF course
it is well known thar President Roose-
welt, in his impulsiye way, has refused
to be guided by the advice of most
| of the leaders of his party, but has
called the extraordinary session of
| Congress in spite of their protest They
fear any discussion of the tariff and
dread the revival of the schism that
Cuban reciprocity produced in the last
Congress. The approach of the nation
al election should find everything har-
monious in the Republican camp, the
program being to ''stand pat" on pros
perity, touch not the tariff, pass the
appropriation bills and go home and
try and make the voters believe that
all is we'll
This dO-nothing policy has been
somewhat rumpIed by the calling of
the extraordinary session, which the
Economist says President Mckinley
would not have called, or even urged
such policy upon Congress and the
Economist should know, for it was
ever in touch with Mckinley. SO we
have the extraordinary spectacle of a
schism in the Republican party on the
most tender subject, the protective tar
if. President Roosevelt advising and
urging Cuban reciprocity and the organ
of the Mckinley Republicans denounc-
ing it as "a craze" If this schism is
projected into Congress, the Demo-
{ ats will take pleasure in umpiring
the fight or joining the side that pro-
pie.