The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-26
II IIAMS and ].
HIS s, DOCTRINES
DEMOCRATIC EEADER WOULD
w ABANDON FREE TRADE.

ABANDON FREE TRADE.
His Stand Is Similar, to That Taken
by the Iowa Republicans allG
Threatens to Make Trouble for the
Party-Revision and Reciprocity
the Williams Slogan Democrats
Seem willing to Follow His Lead.
From The Journal Bureau, Colorado Building.
Washington.
washington, Dec. 26.--Fhe tariff
policy of John Sharp Williams, the
democratic house leader has been
pretty we'll defined in his speeches 10
the house. and in that of john Ll1lu
of Minnesota. made Dec. Ia. 'Ihe only
question now remaining is whether ne
can bring his party TO his 'positlon. he
believes that he can, and this Is also
the opinion of Mr.. Lind, Both OF
them are experienced statesmen and
not inclined to take too roseate a
view of any situation. All indications
suggest the willingness of the demo-
Gratis, south as we'll as north. to ac-
cept Mr.. Williams suggestions re-
garding the tariff. Whenever he mas
addressed the house, he has had the
united support Of his democratic col
leagues. and their hearty applause. IN
secret conferences. where ne mas out
lined his plans at more length. and
with particular reference to party ex-
pediency, he has, been earnestly sup
ported. So it would appear that the
PARTY Is practically ready to fOlloW
the, WilliamS' leadership.
This being the case, it Is Important
once more to look at what Mr. VIII
lliams stands 5fo1s as' re gands the tarlH'
the more so fbecau use what he pro-
poses contemplates, radical depart
11re from all :. accepted democratic
standards, and traditions. II ne IS
successful he will have worked COM
plete party revolution. and yet Win
out friction of any sort.
Mr.. Williams is a free trader In
theory, due in part to his. education
and in part to- his southern environ
ment. If the American nation were
now beginning it's career, and prepar-
ing to adopt q fiscal: policy, he would
argue strenuously for free trade, or Tor
tariff for revenue, because he believes
that is the best fiscal policy, But that
is not the situation. The nation Is
century and quarter Old and during
all those years "has' been "a protection
nation. Under this SYSTEM all kinds or
Industrial, manufacturing and COM
mercial enterprises; have been devel-
oped and CARRIED, to a state of high
perfectior The country, is thoroly
committed to, the protection idea, and
to undertake to eradicate 1t would
mean financial and Industrial chaos. A
change, therefore, IS not desirable,
when the case is viewed from the do
mestic standpoint.
Example of England.
Much. less is it desirable when
viewed from the standpoint OF the
world at large. The great trading ma
tions Of the world are committed to
protection, in a larger or smaller
way, and they are gradually tightening
their tariff lines against us. Even
Great Britain, the best illustration the
world ever has had Of free trade, is
seriously thinking of. abandoning that
principle and adopting protection. The
former British colonial secretary has
esigned his place in the cabinet to
make; a protection campaign thruout
England. Evidently, free trade in the
end has not proved d blessing for that
country: not, In Mr.. Williams opinion
because the fEee trade theory is wrong,
but because ut; cannot be successfully
maintained in the face Of the fact that
the rest of the World is on a protection
basis
Summing UP, Mr.. Williams thinks
that the American nation, being COM
mitted to protection, must adhere to
it for all the future, or at least until
the rest Of the world Is ready to
abandon it, which being the case, he
would not advocate any radical re-
vision of the present tariff schedules
in the event OF dem Ocratic . control of
congress. He would, of course, re-
wise those trust schedules which af-
ford "a shelter: for monopoly" but
the present law, in the main, would
not be disturbed. ~
This position is on all fours with
that occupied by tens Of, thousands Of
republican voters, especially in the
middle west. It Is almost identical
publicaus III Iowa, and with the best
thought of republicans in Minnesota,
Illinois, Wisconsin and the Dakotas.
Williams having thus taken the
ground occupied by SO many repub-
Leans, it will not be possible, in the
event he succeeds in committing his
party to that policy, to make the tar
if a direct issue in any. political cam
paign.. The, only way the tariff can
get in will be thru the trust issue.
He claims that manyaof the leaders
OF the republican party in congress
are retained BY the trusts, and do not
want any reyisions OF the Dingley
remain in power, revision will be i'm
possible. These republican leaders
stand towards revision; as they do to-
wards reciprocity. Outwardly they
may favor it, but secretly they will
do everything they can to make it
impossible. The Williams argument
WILL therefore, be that. .notWithstand-
ing the fact that both parties may
stand upon the same tariff platform,
the democratic party ought to win
will do what the republican, leaders
have promised but failed to do. He
would, therefore, make prominent in
the campaign the unfuliIed pledges
of the republicans, and the tendency
of the leaders of that party to serve
the interests, of the trusts.
T Democratic Reciprocity.
AS eorollary to; the tariff, he
would advocate reciprocity, and espe-
cially reciprocity with Canada, to
which the republican leaders i'll con-
gress are also strongly opposed, it is
popularly supposed. at the behest OF
the trusts.
From a republican point of view
such q democratic policy would be
very dangerous. 1t would meet the
demands of the republican rank and
file at SO many points as to eat into
republican majorities in practically
every state west of the Alleghenies
The only way the republicans could
meet it would be by a complete
change in party leadership in con.
gress, and the discrediting Of men III
both houses who for years have poseo