Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-06-04
WILL MAKE FIGHT
FOR PROTECTION
Colonial Secretary Chamber
lain to Garry Preferential
Trade Plan to People.
OPINION is MUCH DIVIDED
Election May Not Be Held for Eigh-
teen Months and Chamberlain Is
Likely to Be Endorsed-United
States for Example.

London, June Colonial Secre-
tary Chamberlain's protectionist pol
icy is the all prevailing topic of discus
sion here His masterful assertion
that he would make reciprocal trade
between the mother country and her
colonies the question of the hour has
been sensationally fulfilled. Columns
of comment fill the afternoon newspa-
pers, and everyone Is asking Does
1t mean dissolution?
Some people maintain that the gov
eminent contemplates appealing to
the country on preferential trade and
old age pensions Immediately after
the close OF the present session Of
parliament at the beginning of Au-
gust, while others maintain that the
government has not the slightest in
tention of giving up its unexpired
term of office. The Telegraph, gener-
ally semi-inspired, says:
1.-The issue could not be voted on
for at least eighteen months, but in
the meantime the government will
give the people and parliament time
to discuss 1t. A definite decision will
probably be arrived at shortly. and
will depend almost entirely on the re-
suit of the propaganda now under
taken by the press and the members
of the house of commons. IL the indi-
cations show that Mr. Chamberlain is
likely to have the country at his back
a general election at the end of this
year is extremely probable" The coll
onial secretary himself, the Associated
Press learns, is doubtful II he could
win out just at present, but he is en-
Enthusiastically positive that with polit-
ical agitation the conservatives can
be brought to see the wisdom of his
policy. Those who have discussed
the preferential scheme with its au-
thor say he never exhibited such
keen interest in any topic. In this
crusade the colonial secretary is in
harmony with Premier Balfour and
has no design on the premiership. II
general election were held tomor-
row. and the secretarys plans were
carried out. Mr.. Balfour would again
take the reins Of government. The
opposition is almost solidly opposed to
a modification of free trade and will
endeavor to arouse that public fer
ment which was associated with the
corn tax days.
Mr.. Chamberlain, Mr.. Balfour and
such unionists as agree with them will
try to extract from the public that de-
gree of support which they may in
terpret as a popular mandate. All
signs point to a lengthy campaign on
the lines of protection versus free
trade, which is likely to destroy party
lines almost as much as did the home
rule question. In all the arguments
the example and probable attitude OF
the United States will figure largely.
The opponents of the scheme point
out that the comparative immunity Of
the American from taxation pIecludes
his prosperity under protection being
applicable to the Britisher, who, as
even the government organs admit, is
already so heavily taxed that the in
itial years of protection with higher
priced food would be severe strain
on HIN and possibly create bitter dis
satisfaction among the poorer classes.
The sugar convention bill, enabling
the British government to carry out
the provisions of the Brussels sugar
convention, which passed its second
reading in the house of commons
Thursday, is taken by the liberal pa
pers to be another feature of Mr..
Chamberlain attack on free trade"
The text OF the bill provides for the
prohibition of the import of bounty
fed sugar, that the origin OF imported
sugar be proved and that there be sup
srvision by the customs or internal
revenue officers of all British re-
fneries, which must be worked only
by persons authorized by the commits
siOners