The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-06
SENATOR FoRAKER.
Says He Does Not Wish Republicans
 to Dodge the Tariff.

Washington Special to Chicago Chronicle. Senator Foraker of Ohio sounded new
 slogan for the Republican party today. with the Republican leaders of Congress
 who have been lodging discussion of the | tariff issue.
 T am not in favor of the Republicans wearing gum shoes" said the Senator.
 My advice Is to put on brogans instead This statement was elicitsd by the re- cent declaration of certain House leaders
 that Philippine tariff legislation will not
 be cons .dered at the forthcoming regular
 session because 1t might provoke a wide- open discussion of the whole tarif ques-
 ton.
 Why should the Republican party be afraid to discuss the tariff at any time 2"
 the Senator asked. Then he added: If
 there Is any policy of legis' ation with
 and, identified. too. to the satisfaction of
 the American people, if election returns tariff
 T believe theie ought to be free trade
 with the Philippines, as there is with Porto Rico. I.belieye the Senate will at
 least pass a bill reducing the rate of tarin on the products of the Phil ppine islands. That bill should be passed at the regular session Of Congress this winter to give
 the Philippines the prosperity Governor
 Taft pleads should be given them. What if the bill does lead to general |
 Republican party which has w2n on the
 issue of the protective tariff, suddenly be-
 come such that we cannot bear to h9ar
 that issue debated in Congress? That is a most remarkable suggestion.
 Tt might be we'll for the opportunity to
 be offered for the Republics ms to go on
 record and reassure the country on the eve of a presidential election that the
 partys policy in Congress is to preserve the industrial stability which has been
 established under Republican legislation.
 It might not hurt us to let the Demo- crats give an object lesson of what they
 would do to the tariff in the way Of
 smashing industries, causing the shutting
 down of plants and idleness of labor if they should eet into power.
 What will the country think of us if we
 refuse to do justice to the people in our
 territory of the Philippines, as recom-
 because we are afraid to bring on dis
 cussion of policy which is one of the foundation stones of the Republican par ty? Let's give the Democrats all the tar- to their one in appealing to the common
 sense of the American people" The Ohio Senator's attitude on the tariff
 question is not that of the President. MT. Roosevelt does not want to provoke a tar fir discussion. That is one issue of which
 he is mortaily afraid. He consented to sidetrack the Philippine bill without reluc- tance when he was told by House leaders that it would be certain to pr 0voke dis cussion of the whole tariff question. So far as tariff Is concerned the Presi-
 dent will eschew brogans and wear gum
 shoes. In all his consultations with poll ticians he Is eager to ascertain the state of the public mind on tha tariff question He want sto find out whether 1t sroal V
 an issue in sections of the c"untry where
 the next Republican candidate for Pres :
 dent must secure the majorilies that will nHcnn =. ------o.--.