The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-19
SATURDAY, MARcH 10. 1904.
MINNESOTA AND THE TARIFF.

We knew what, IN the parlance OIL the
street, Minnesota Republicans were up
against it, when their state convention
came to discuss the tariff. A party
which has it's orders from the Eastern
bosses to stand pat" and whose West
ern membership is practically solid in
favor of a general and somewhat rad
zeal tariff reform, is in a terrible d1-
lemma. But we had hardly expected any
performance so grotesque as the adop-
ton of the resolution In the platform
accepted by the Minneapolis conven-
ton which processes to cover this ques-
ton. AS a matter of political interest,
and also as curiosity in the study of
the English language, we reproduce the
extraordinary declaration in full:
We believe that protection and reci-
procity are twin measures Of Repub-
lican policy and success, or, in other
words, the correct application OF reel
procity is protection. We demand en-
larged markets for the products of our
farms and factories. We demand ad-
mission of the necessaries of life which
we do not produce from other coun-
tries under reciprocal agreements of
mutual interests which gain open mar
kets for us with other nations always
keeping in view the fact that our home
protection must not be impaired. we
favor such notifications of tariff
schedules as from time to time are re-
quired by changing conditions and in
sist that such changes shall be made
~ fI0 f11Ta do
of protection.
Is there any living human being who
can tell what this means, or does not
mean, or means to mean? ''The correct
application of reciprocity is protec-
ton" Might a mere ordinary man in
quire which barrel Of this gun is ex-
pected to go off first? Ought we to rely
upon reciprocity treaties in general as
an adequate measure of protection and
abolish our tariff laws, or ought we to
depend upon the application of the tar
if in some mysterious way to create
reciprocity? The whole thing is balder-
dash; so stupidity involved, self-con-
Trajectory and meaningless that men
must consider themselves in a very
deep hole indeed politically before they
would consent to lay hands on such a
rope to pull them out.
The Republican party of Minnesota
is in the sad plight of feeling that 'ft
will be damned if it does and damned
if it don't" More than 80 per cent of
qualif1edly in favor Of tariff reform.
This more than 80 per cent does not
demand some little tinkering with the
tariff, but a real reduction that would
break down the sacred privileges of
the trusts and turn over to the consum-
er some of the arbitrary profits now
enjoyed under the law by monopoly,
These have demanded as the price of
their continued support some party
declaration favorable to tariff revision
The Republican leaders in the state
are absolutely under the thumb of the
big bosses at the East. These men, the
men who own the Republican party
body, soul and breecles, are all bene-
f1ciaries of the present robber tariff
They are all men whose personal af-
fairs and fortunes depend upon keep
out fat that they will have no tariff
revision; and however much Minnesota
congressman and senators and other
politicians might desire 1t, they know
that if they SO much as wink an eye
lash in that direction they will be put
upon the federal blacklist. They have
their orders and those orders are tt
stand pat.
The big four, who have already
slated everything for the Republican
national convention, are not going tC
have row raised by any wild tariff
reform Indians from the West. They
have put the extinguisher on Gov
Cummins; and found it very much
CcSlCI " C1dP l11C ocA116 OoClOl al l1CIS
over the Republican party Of Mime
sofa, until there was nothing left o.
it's manly professions Of devotion tt
tariff reform but bad smell.
Take the Republican press of thi:
state, run through their columns fol
months past and see how many decla-
rations you can find in favor of stand
ing pat. Make list of the advocates
Of tariff reduction. You will then SCI
how the real representatives Of public
opinion have been compelled by it tt
declare their position on the tariff, ant
how miserably the people are betrayed
by this prolix, cowardly evasion adopt
ed at the Minneapolis convention
which it's trainers had not even dex.
terity enough to turn into readable
English. The straddle In politics Ii
familiar enough, but the straddler is
generally able to save appearances
The Republican convention might az
well have plastered every dead wal