The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-24
Strong Sentiment Among Eastern
and Southern Democrats
Against Radical Action.
DEBATE IN NEXT CONGRESS.
Predicted That Much Less Will Be
Heard of Gree Trade" Than
in Similar Discussions
Senator Bacon's Views.
The Republic Bureau.

lAth 81. and pennsylvania Ave.
Washington. March s3-With tariff an as
sured issue in the next presidential cam
paign. the attitude Of leading Democrats
assumes renewed Importance. Toward the
East and South especially the emphasis
against indiscriminate revision of schedules
Is becoming noticeable.
In the great tariff discussion of the next
SESSION Of Congress, which now seems in
evitable. and in the presidential struggle TO
follow, one will hear much less about free
trade" than in campaigns long gone by.
This conservative idea is voiced by Sem
ator Bacon of Georgia, who during eight
years service in the Senate has come to
the front as one Of the leaders there and as
one of the foremost Southern men In public
life.
The laws which the last Congress en-
acted" he said. will afford no additional
protection to the people from high prices.
Take the publicity provision. 1t Will not
check the operations Of the big combinations
The United States Steel Corporation is
an Illustration. Already that trust, one Of
the greatest OF all our trusts. has been
giving the widest publicity about the amount
or Its capital stock. its dividends and like
matters required now by Federal law. And
yet 1t is proceeding as boldly as any of the
corporations with its operations. 1t VIII not
pc restricted by the publicity provision. l
Its prices to consumers for steel products
because OF that provision In the law.
senator Bacon regards the trust and the
tariff topics as interviewer, as far as correc-
tive leglsla lion Is concerned:
"The.trusts have. generally crushed out
composition here at home. but in many
competition Is shut out also. 1t is a most
difficult matter to legislate efficiently and.
at the same time. safely. relative to trusts:
trusts. that injury will be unintentionally
done to legitimate business enterprises.
Il would remove the top bricks on that
tariff wall Within certain limitations be-
lieve foreign competition could be wisely in
vited so as to reduce the prices OF these
trust-made articles to domestic consumers
without injury to labor and legimate buSi-
ness interests"
ADJUSTED TO HIGH TARIFF.
DO you anticipate extensive tariff dis
cussion in the next Congressr'
It will Be provoked by the cuban treaty and
! expect will be discussed exhaustively In
the Senate. Personally. I am a low-tariff
am aware that the full realization now of
such an idea is far from practicable.
However correct theory may be. lesis-
lation in large measure necessarily must be
Influenced and controlled by practical condi-
lions. The country, in its basis of values,
has become adjusted to high tariff rates.
portant ramifcations. The scale Of prices
for everything is in accord with the general
scheme 1t affects the rates Of wages and
the cost Of living.
I'VE cannot suddenly disturb conditions
that so vitality affect the entire country.
Whatever changes are ultimately enacted
should be made gradually.
II think we should pull some Of the
bricks of the top Of the wall. as I have al:
ready said. and not attempt to raze the wall
to the ground. / would lower the rates to
the point where labor would still be safe
from the competition Of pauper European
labor. and at the same time withdraw
Federal protection. through the tariff. TO
interests that are now sheltered behind pro-
hjbjtive rates and enabled thus to charge
extortion prices to consumers:
wherever you find trust that is selling
its goods abroad at prices less than the
prices at which 1t Is selling the same goods
to American consumers you will, think.
find a pretty safe place at which to begin
reducing the tariff on that class of goods"
Whom do you regard as the most avail |
able candidate for President on the Demo-
cratic ticket next year?'
1T would not like to discuss individuals in
that connection" answered the Senator
"But the man must be acceptable to New
York State. as well as to the other States |
where the Democracy has hopes Of getting |
votes"