Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-04-10
To buy handsome wedding present, &c
to BOLEN'S Jewelry Store.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular Correspondent


Washington, April 6.-Some remark
republican ranks have come to light
during the past week. In an extra
ordinary speech Secretary Root has
announced that there must be no
tariff tinkering.' that the sacred
Dipgley schedules must not even be
touched before election, nor at a short
session. and, as the session following
the election will be short, this pOstpones
the tariff revision by it's friends, y of
which Mr.. Root talks SO confidently,
until the winter of 1905-06. Secretary
Shaw has taken occasion to deprecate
all tariff revision, not even holding out
the promise of a reform in the system
in 1905 Mr.. Shaw urges that high
prices bring prosperity and the trusts
and all their attendant evils are to be
preferred to competition. No tariff
revision for the present and probably
none for the future, this seems to be
the sum and subance of republican
doctrine.
There is seriously discordant voice,
in the republican concert, however, a
voice which, now that there is no cleo.
tion at hand, dares to tell the truth
1t is that of Representative Babco, K
of Wisconsin. who cries out against
the diIatory tactics of his party and
frankly states that the Dingley tariff
law is robbing the American people
Of millions of dollars, is transient g
from the pockets of the people to those
of the Steel Trust alone, upwards #
$50 900, 900 annually. This is how Mr..
Babcock explains the situation. He
says that protection means the equali-
zltiOn of the cost of American labor.
On an article, which costs to produce
10 this country 81 % and which, be-
cause of cheaper labor, can be produced
abroad for 81, Mr.. Babcock would
place tariff of rs cents and be un-
hesitatingly says that every cent of
tariff above that amount means the
robbing of the people. The Steel Trust
can produce steel cheaper here than
it can be produced anywhere else in
the world, therefore the tariff of near.
ly SIS per ton which is now assessed is
actually a license to the trust to rob
the American people of that amount
on every ton. What the republicans
will do to Mr.. Babcock when they
learn that he has talked thus to q
newspaper correspondent remains to
be seen.
Great expectations have been enter
tanned with regard to the President s
speeches in the west and those men,
bers of his party who looked for some
encouragement in the nature of a
promise of tariff relief have been dis
appointed. The President has already
demonstrated that he has been con
verified to the "stand pat" policy of
Mr.. Hanna and other high prOrection-
lists. Amusement is expressed in Wash
ingtOn at a trick of which Mr.. Roose
welt was guilty in Milwaukee. He
pretended to quote in entirity his IA
nous Minneapolis speech but attempt
ed to take advantage of the memory
of his audience and omitted without
reference one of the most important
statements made in that speech. In
his speech Of September 2, 1901. Mr..
Roosevelt, then Vice President, said,
The vast individual and corporate
fortunes, the combinations of capital
which have marked the development of
our industrial system. create new con-
ditions and necessitate change from
the old attitude of state and nation to-
ward property" These words the
President deliberately omitted without
reference to or explanation of the
omission. In the opinion of demo-
cratic statesmen no clearer evidence
is required that Mr.. Roosevelt has
abandoned the cause of the people and
espOused that of the capitalist and the
monOpOlist.
Secretary Root has issued further
instructions with regard to the inspec-
ton of militia regiments by officers of
the regular army. prior to their enroll
ment as properly qualified troops. The
Secretary lnstruc!s that only thorough
ly competent officers be charged with
the duty of inspection and that they
refrain from undue formality in the
performance of their duty. He urges
that the militia be provided with maya
zine guns OF the required type as soon
as possible SO that they may become
to handling and drilling
with them. In every instance the Of
hcer charged with making the inspec
tiOn is instructed to first confer with
the adjutant general of the state with
regard to the most convenient time
and place for the inspection which
may, and probably will, in may in
stances take place during the annual