The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-04-14
ROOSEVELT
AND TARIFF
The Presidents Position Analysed
and Explained-Tot Sound
ing q Retreat
He Would Only Have 1ru.c,
Waiting for a More Favor
able Opportunity.
Still Revisionist, He Will at the
Right Time Lead the
Advance.

ing, Washington. e.,
Washington. April 14.--Treading OH the
heels of the newspaper announcement that
the administration had concluded not to
invite any further reciprocity negOtla-
tions, the speeches of two members OF the
cabinet followed by the presidents own
at Minneapolis indicating that
no further steps would be taken toward
tariff revision for the present, have fallen
like a wet blanket upon the enthusiasm
of some of the most intelligent and pro-
gressive republicans in Washington. 1t
looks to them as if the chosen head of
their party and of the government were
sounding the call for a truce just as the
two sides were lining up for a battle
in which the revisionists were practically
sure to win. They feel that 1T may be
serious thing for the republican party to
go into the next presidential campaign
suffering from the handicap of apparent
deafness to demand from an influential
Quarter within it's own lines. Some Of
them who are most loyal to President
Roosevelt's fortunes and fully appreciate
the attractive force of his personality
among the rank and file of the voters,
feel some concern as to the future when
they reflect on the weight Of the load
overcome by his individual strength.
What puzzles most persons IS the presi-
dents change from an enthusiastic and
pushing revisionist into a rather cautious
critic of times and seasons and methods.
1t is plain that such questioners have
never made very close study Of the
president and the situation or they would
find no insoluble problem In his conduct.
Mr.. Roosevelt did not begin his public
{ct ooi1 of
Harvard and the natural bent of his mind
were wholly toward freedom Of commerce.
What he knows OF protection and it's
great value to the country he learned as
he learned his French, from books and
teachers. He studied French. not be-
cause there was anything in it that APP
pealed to him particularly, but because it
was the proper thing for an educated
man of his day and country to be able
to use that tongue after a fashion. He
accepted the economic inevitable in the
same spirit, because he had cast his lot
with the republicans as the people with
whom he would probably find most; In
common, and protection was one Of the
cardinal principles of his party. @
Bearing these facts In mind, and re-
membering that a, convert, however
jealous he may aim to be, is never able
to get quite out Of the atmosphere of
"reminiscences, 1t ought not to surprise
any one that Mr.. Roosevelt largely
grasped at the projects of tariff revision
and reciprocal notifications to which his
predecessor was preparing to commit
their party, and urged them upon con-
sress and the people. In his honest
hearted way, he really believed the prom
Uses his fellow republican leaders la6
showered right and left, and supposed
that they would be as anxious as he tt
redeem every obligation promptly and a.
It's face.
Now" said he to congress, in effect
1--WE have seen the miserable failure o
every previous attempt at reform Of tn,
tariff by it's friends, due to the uncon
trolable greed of the men who max
tariffs. and who arc friends of their owl
offspring only so long as it will continue
to serve their ends. I wish you, gentle
men. to understand that I am a protec
tionist-A1, all WOOL full measure-an,
when I suggest revision it means the gen
uine article, with no vile free trade mix
ture in it. Since you and I are bot
pledged to an honest tariff. which shal
really benefit all the people and not merel
a few manufacturing barons, we can at
ford to play fair. Let us, therefore, hav
a commissio ion appointed to study the Who'll
business coolly and carefully. and give u
q report which will show just what ca
be done with the best average effect. Tha
will be vastly better than any kind Q
scheme cooked up behind the barred door
Of a committee room in congress-
By way Of response, congress laid it
skinny forefinger against the side Of 1t
long, sagacious nose and silently winke(
It was q sign to which the candid Roose
Welt was unaccustomed and he suppose
1t meant assent. 1t didn't. From tn
list. of December, 1901, till the 4th G
March,, 1903, the young president waited
y, nh, h. 1~,,lI ~
for the action which he supposed tn
lawmakers would be glad to join him /
taking; but in vain. Then what happened
The people were still clamoring for tar
if revision, none harder than his war;nes
supporters in the free west, as he love
to call it. He sympathized with their de
mand. The only satisfactory relief wa
to his thinking, in the appointment Of
commission, will, all the time 1t needle
to invest igate. and consult and draw u
schedules which it would be prepared I
stand by. Any attempt at revision be
tween the meetings of congress in Decen
Der. 1908. and the presidential campaie
of the following summer would necessari
rule out the commission idea, and, wors
than that. open the schedules to modif
cations based wholly ON what would ga
ry this weak district and that doubt
state for the party in power. So
sounded, not a. retreat, but halt.
Here Is the whole explanation Of IL
presidents attitude. He is just as sil
cerly in favor of revision as ever, tt
whole tendency of his mind being towal
a. lower and more rational scale Of dutie
he is Just as determined as ever that SUE
revision shall be honest. ard that it sta
come while he is in office. If possible
bring it about; and his present attitut
is only one of caution as to the choice
a time when the work can be done as
should be. ".-l
While 1t may be true that the admins
tration will make no overtures looking
the revival of the reciprocity treati
which lapse by limitation this year, 1t
well known that a suggestion to that er
from any other government in intere
will be met with good will, but also Wi
entire frankness. No formal proposal
understood to have been made yet b
there are rumors af1oat that one is con
ing, and perhaps more. Our attitude t.
ward such approaches will be receipt
though by no means enthusiastic. IT.
proponent will be warned that, -althous
the executive branch Of the governme
has not changed its opinions or policy
the least, since President Mckinley
memorable speech at Buffalo, and is reat
to do it's share toward resuscitating al
or all the treaties, it can hold forth
encouragement as to favorable action
. the senate. The ground Of this dishear
ened view was very we'll set forth t