Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-10
G0RMAN AND TARIFF
Republicans Apprehensive in
Regard to His Position.
NO FREE TRADE TALK
HIS RECORD IN CONGRESS IS
WELL KNOWN.
But He Could Not Persuade Democratic
Party to His Way Of
Thinking.

Senator Germans position on the tari6
question is causing the republicans some
concern. If he can succeed in swinging the
democratic convention into line to adopt
his views the situation may be very serious
for the republicans in the opinion of some
politicians, who are discussing that phase.
Senator German. in his recent interviews,
has clearly outlined middle position for
the democrats on the tariff question; posi-
ton which a great many people in this
country want to take and which neither
party thus far has proposed Senator Cor
man has talked tariff revision. not free
trade. His record in Congress is well
known. He is far from being free trader
and yet he comedies that there should be
revision of the tariff and reduction Of some
Of the schedules.
The Fear of German.
The question that politicians now are ask
ing is, VIII not Senator German lead the
democracy into the position Of being the
sole advocates of tariff revision? 1t is
pointed out that the republican party has
unified its two tariff factions and is now in
a. stand pat attitude, with tariff revision
postponed until after the presidential cleo
ton and in state of rather haZy indefinite
ness, at best. The republicans want TO re-
wise the schedules as necessity demands,
but do not admit that the necessity at pres
ent exists
Senator German speaking as the ac-
knowledged leader Of his party, Ia ready to
revise the schedules at once and his past
record, it is said should give every guaran-
tee that the revision would not be violent.
That being the case. the politicians arc ask
ing if 1t is not likely that the tariff rev sion
sentiment in the republican party might be
swung to the democrats, If Senator Cor
mans views prevail!
Cry of the High Tariff Men.
The one cry which has been used with ef-
feet by the hgh-tariff republicans against
the demands of the tariff revisionists OF
their party has been. Let the republicans
revise the tariff: do not intrust revision to
the free traders" There Is no doubt that
sentiment 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 democrat who .s not for
free trade who is, in point OF fact, good
protectionist. But he recognizes the de-
mand for revision and would meet 1t by
Judicious scaling of the schedules. The re-
publican leaders would be more concerned
over Mr. Germans position II they had any
confidence in the democratic party follow
ing his lead. They are convinced that when
the convention is held to nominate candf-
date for President and frame a platform
the old democratic spirit will prevail and
there will be old-fashioned democratic
tariff plank in the platform upon which the
tariff revis. on republicans will be afraid to
trust themselves.
Faith in Protection.
There is abiding faith among republicans
in the effectiveness of protection a cam
paign issue in this country. The prosperity
which has followed the enactment of the
Dingley tariff law has gwen the people an
example of the benefits of protection, m
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 adop-
ton of the German proposition for revision
that did not destroy.