Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-08-15
MR.. G)RMAN AND
TARIFF REVISION.

Favors Such a Stand by
the Democratic Party.-It
Would Unite All Factions
of the Party.
Washington, Aug. 1O.-According to
report Senator Germans position re.
garding the tariff is causing the repub-
licans some concern. If he can succeed
in bringing the democratic convention
into line with his views the situation
may be made very serious for the repub-
licans, in the opinion of politicians here.
Senator German, in recent interviews,
has outlined a middle position for the
democrats on the tariff proposition;a
position acceptable to a great many peo-
pie in this country and which neither
party thus far has proposed. Senator
German has talked tariff revision, not
free trade. HIS record in Congress is
well known. He is far from being a
free trader, and yet he comedies that
there should be revision of the tariff and
reduction of some of the schedules. The
star tonight says:
1.-The question that politicians now
are asking is. Will not Senator German
lead the democracy into the position of
being the sole advocates of tariff re-
vision: 1t is pointed out that the re-
publican party has unified its two tariff
factions and is now in a stand pat
attitude. with tariff revision postponed
until after the presidential election and
in state of rather haZy indefiniteness,
at best. The republicans want to revise
the schedules as necessity demands, but
do not admit that the necessity at pre-
sent exists.
Senator German, speaking as the &C.
knowledged leader of his party, is ready
to revise the schedules. at once. and his
past record, it is said, should give every
guarantee that the revision would not
be violent. That being the case. the
politicians are asking if it is not likely
that the tariff revision sentiment in the
republican party might be swung to
the democrats, if Senator Gorman's
views prevail?
1.-The one cry which has been used
with effect by the high-tariff republi.
cans against the demands of the tariff
LET the republicans revise the tariff;
do not intrust revision to the free
traders" There is no doubt that senti.
ment has held in check the aggression
of the revisionists. They would prefer
to put up with the rates they deem too
high rather than fly to the evils of
democratic free trade
But here comes a democrat who is
not for free trade. who is, in point of
fact. a good protectionist But he recog.
niZes the demand for revision and
would meet it by judicious scaling of
the schedules. The republican leader5
would be more concerned over Mr..
German s position if they had any con-
fidence in the democratic party follow
lug uls lcdu IHcy dTt COuNluCcu budG
when the convention is held to nominate
candidate for President and frame a
platform the old democratic spirit will
prevail and there will be an old-fashion-
ed democratic tariff plank in the plat.
form upon which the tariff revision re-
publicans will be afraid to trust them
selves.
There is abiding faith among repub-
licans in the effectiveness of protection
as a campaign issue in this country.
The prosperity which has followed the
enactment of the Dingley tariff law has
given the people an example of the
benefits of protection. in their opinion.
which will live for some time.
"Any democratic platform which
threatens seriously that protection will
be hailed with joy by the republicans.
They would look with apprehension,
however. upon the adoption of the Cor
man proposition for revision that did
not destroy"