The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-04-16
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, April r3, 1908
There is no longer any question OF
the tariff policy Of the Administration
nor of the platform on which the
President expects to make his cam
pagn for reelection. From mem
Der of the Presidents Cabinet your
correspondent learns the following
facts. Ever since he became Presl-
dent Mr. Roosevelt has believed that
certain of the Dingley duties were too
high and should be revised. This was |
evidenced by his advocacy of COM
| mission to make recommendations to |
Congress regarding necessary tariff
changes. When Governor Cummlns
of Iowa came to Washington some
time ago the President was strongly
impressed with the formers exposl-
ton of the "Iowa Idea" Before he
left Washington, however, Mr.. Roose-
welt conferred with many of the lead
ers of his party. They urged upon
him the impossibility of securing any
reduction of the tariff because of the
uncompromising attitude of number
of republican senators, probably
eighteen. They pointed out that an
attempt at revision would disturb
business and, however beneficial the
result might eventually prove, the i'm
, mediate consequence would be the
l defeat of the party which undertook
{ to change the tariff schedules. After
listening to these arguments Mr.
: Roosevelt was reluctantly, but none
+ + the less certainly, convinced.
XXX
t lust before the President went
west he presented the situation to the
= Cabinet saying that he feared tariff
& revision would be impracticable
This view was heartily endorsed by
every member save Secretaries Shaw
and Wilson who expressed no opin
l. ion. 1t was then and there deter
mined that Secretary Shaw should
y at Peoria, and Secretary Root should
- at Boston, announce the keynote o
70 the campaign, as the "stand pat
ID policy. The President also deter
Of mined to make his position clear a
n Minneapolis. Senator Allison, VIII
was a party to the agreement, ais'
he stated that he would make public hi
CT approval of the plan in the nea
e.. .er future. This policy has been carrie
~ out in detail, Senator Allison havin
he given an interview to western news
,rs paper knocking" the "Iowa idea
The President read and approved tn
lr- Shaw and Root speeches In his ow
mt speech it was noticed by careful oil
bi- servers that he did not depreca'
tariff revision with the force he usual
exhibits in discussing public question
rtb and in view of the inside history
the the situation the reason is plain. M
en- Roosevelts heart is not with II
Of "stand pat" policy. He believes
,he a revision of the tariff and has adoE
'm. ed the contrary position only as
,ni matter of expedlency. Secretary w
vod m son believes it is too early to ado
re- such policy. He regards the Gu
sec MINIS faction in Iowa as more pow
res tul than 1t is believed to be by 9th
members of the Cabinet and is folio
ing his usual policy of ''slttlng on
md fence"
gov XXX
tnn trtr Great surprise is expressed at
g an. fact, which has just leaked out, Il
t re- Secretary Hay has pledged the UNI
the States to pay the expense incurred
ex- the Panama Canal Company In ma
au- tanning its concession, which nece
t of tates the continuous excavation
mar minimum amount of earth. In or
to comply with the terms OF this
rv cession the French company now
IN q. employed force consisting OF
reas- engineers, As surgeons, and appr
the mately 1900 men. The expense
vice maintaining this force, for which
,lr =.