Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-09-01

DeIOr6 the american farmer, the amer
lean lumber worker. the American miner
and the American fisherman would decide
to retaliate by withdrawing the benefits
OF protection from Massachusetts, mills
and factories.
So the fight is on in Massachusetts, and
the free traders, tariff reformers and reci-
procitarians all over the country are hops
ing for the downfall of straight out Re-
publicanism On the part of Senator
Lodge it is a fight for his life-his political
life. He ought to win cut but he cannot
win by compromise or Cancellation. These
were tried in Iowa, but they only made
the enemy holder and more aggressive.
and it was not until a determined stand
was taken and maintained for the prin-
ciples Of sound and unyieIding Republic
anism that the disturbing element was
beaten into submission. 1t will be so in
Massachusetts if the same policy shall be
pursued. otherwise. not
We do not think that Senator Lodge
strengthened his position when in his
speech of July at Point Shirley he UNDER
took to ride two horses at once, and these
two going in contrary directions His best
outlook we feel sure, is from a seat in the
saddle of the straight out Republican
horse. AT Chicago the Republican nation
al convention declared:
"We believe in commercial reciprocity
wherever reciprocal arrangements can be
SijGGlCNl COilSiSlSilL Will lLG principles D1
protection and without injury to American
agriculture, American labor or any Amer
lean industry"
Does Senator Lodge construe that dec
laration so as to leave an opening for free
trade in Canadas competitive natural
products? Nobody else CONSTITUTES it that
way. Least of all is it desirable that the
farmers of the United States should so
construe it. And yet we find Senator
Lodge saying in his speech of last Satlr-
day:
1.-THE petition which is being widely cir
culated in this state by well paid canvass
ers, and which / understand has been
signed by many Republicans as well as by
many Democrats who, fancy, have no in
tention of adhering too strictly to the first
proposition, which demands a vote for
Roosevelt and Fairbanks says: That the
establishment of reciprocal trade relations
with other countries and especially with
Canada and Newfoundland our nearest
neighbors, is of vital Importance to the
commercial welfare of the United States
and especially that of Massachusetts
With that proposition, except the exag-
gerated adjective vital / am also in full
agreement.
81 have never anywhere or at any time
stated or made any opposition to it, and 1
know that in this / am in entire accord
with those who represent our state in
national affairs, with my reyered COL
league, Mr.. Hoar, and with all the Repub-
lican members of the house of representa-
tives from Massa chusetts. Such being the
case, the question naturally arises, Why
spend so much money and take so much
pains to induce Republicans to sign a
statement in favor of a policy to which
they already all agree?''
The statement that all Republicans
agree-even after emitting the exaggerat-
l
procity with other countries. and espe-
eially with Canada and Newfoundland, is
of Importance to the commercial welfare
of the United States, is a remarkable one,
coming, as it does, from the chairman of
the committee on resolutions of the Chi
cago convention, the author, it is proper
to assume, of the resolution quoted above.
1t is far from true that all Republicans
agree to the Massachusetts, idea of wide
open reciprocity. 1t is not true of all
Massachusetts Republicans: it is not true
of Republicans in any other part of the
Union. 1t cannot be true: else the reci-
procity resolution of the national Republic
an convention would not have been, could
not have been, adopted. To the general
body of the Republican party reciprocity
in competitive products with Canada is
just as hateful, just as Objectionable as
reciprocity in competitive products with
France or Germany would be. In either
case the principle of protection is violated.
the faith of the party of protection is
| broken.
We do not know upon what line of adj
vice or counsel Senator Lodge acted in his
Point Shirley speech but we do know that
he grossly misrepresented Republican sens
timent when he asserted that there is no
disagreement with the Massachusetts idea.
There is disagreement, much disagree
ment. TO have stated otherwise in the
hope of thereby piacating an enemy bent
upon the downfall of himself and of the
Republican party was an act of folly an
act of cowardice Henry Cabot Lodge
may fail in his efforts to secure re-elec-
ton to the United States senate, but if he
is doomed to defeat he should go down
with colors flying.
Jerry Simpson Redivivus.
Jerry Simpson is now a farmer and
cattle raiser in New Mexico He is a
candidate before the Democratic con-
vention for the nomination of delegate
in congress. No man fixed his name
more firmly in public memory by so
short a service in the house. He was
well equipped for his duties and dis
charged them ably, fearlessly, patriot
ically and with a relish He is not an
orator in the popular acceptance of
that much abused term. He is a de-
batter of great ability, which is a much
more important matter in congress
than to be an orator | am not decry-
ing oratory, but the debater is more
useful in transacting business and in
calculating any subject 1t is doubt
full if a stronger rough and tumble
debater than Jerry Simpson ever sat
in congress. He was afraid of no
body. He neither asked nor gave quar-
ter. In his time there We're 357 mem
bers. Not one of the other 356 could
tackle him with anything like certainty
of coming out on top He might do it,
but would know he had been in the
fight of his life. Jerry did not confine
himself to the midgets. He went after