The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-12
TARIFF REVISION
NEXT ON PROGRAM
Indications that It Will Be the Alb
sorbing Topic at Coming
49, Session.
ROOSEVELT BELIEVED TO
FAVOR EARLY ACTION
<eciprocity and Trust Questions
Bound Up with It, May Lead
= to Extra Session.
BY w. w. Jermane.

BY w. w. Jermane.
Washington, Nov. l2.-Far and away
the. most interesting and important
this winter will be the tariff and reel
procity. Already there are signs that
the democrats will try to focus atten-
ton on this subject during the short
session of congress, which begins next
month and adjourhs in March. 1t need
surprise no one if comfort should be
lent them by certain republican MEM
bers from the middle west revision
states. Undoubtedly the next great
work before the republican party will
be tariff revision, with a reciprocity
accompaniment.
The president is believed to stand
where he has stood from the frst--in
any secret of his opinions, and while
of necessity he accepted the "stand-
pat' declaration of the republican ma
tional platform this year, that declara-
ton, it is believed, will not prevent
him from handling the tariff q question
as to him seems best for the country.
During the summer and early fall,
when Senator Lodge was having his
troubles III Massachusetts, and the par
ty there was being whipped into line by
the reciprocity advocates, a committee
of three prominent Massachusetts re-
publicans was sent to Oyster Bay to
talk with the president and ascertain
and ON the tariff. The impression left
on the minds of the committee by the
president was that he was strongly in
favor OF reciprocity and tariff revision,
and would probably endeavor in his
second administration to secure con-
committee said further that, while the
president had made no definite promise,
no had left the impression that he
might call congress in extraordinary
session about next April to take up
the tariff and related matters, chief
among these latter being the trusts.
, This report agrees closely with what
more than a year, reports of which
have from time to time appeared in
Ehls correspondence. r.
How Roosevelt Will Act.
tant matter, the president, must, of
course, move with great caution. AS
a practical man, he must try to accom-
plish his - aims ms without alternating the
will be a difficult feature, but the pres
ident can accomplish it if any one can.
AS leader OF the entire republican par
ty, the revisionists as we'll as the
stand-patters, he will need be unu-
sually careful. Before taking any ae-
ton, he will call the leading party men
into counsel, 80 over the situation with
them In detail. 1t is understood that
the president is inclined to hold that
revision must be accomplished before
another presidential election, if the re-
publican party would be certain of con
tinuing in power. The reasons for this
will be pointed out to the "stand pat
10 \
vanced that will tend to bring them
around to a position where, if not ia
voring revision, they will not obstruct
it. Failing this concession, it cannot
be guessed what the president will do
At present, however, it is believed that
overcome by arguments bearing broadly
on continued party supremacy.
A Political Parallel.
The political condition in 1908 NAV
unless revision is taken care of, be {
repetition of that of 1876, when Tilde1
Is believed by many to have beer
honestly elected president.
Four years before, in 1872, the re
publican party had come into power OF
the greatest landslide in the history O.
sive overw helming defeat for the de
mocracy--;iust as the present one ha
been. The party was disorgan
lied and almost annihi1ated-as is tn
case today. By administrative an
legislative b1unders, the republicans los
ground following 1872, and in 1876 tn
democrats made campaign, which wa
truly wonderful when contrasted wit
the republican landslide record Of fou
years before.
The ability Of the democracy to re
cuperate was put to a severe test i
1876 and in that test it made bri
liant response. 1t is not safe for repul
hcans to argue anything as to 1908 8
this time, unless the party, in the plel
SO act as to merit a continuance Of pop,
lar approval. In all probability, tn
greatest questions to come before til
country in 1908 will be the trusts, re-
iprocity and tariff-questions which al
intimately related. Many thinkers, il
deed, think it impossible to consider or
without the other two. Failure to r.
rennial period, therefore, may be a
copied by the people as evidence thu
the republican party has not been sill
cere, and no matter what the attituC
of the president personally, the party
sin of omission may be visited on II
head of it's national candidates at tt
next general election.
OuCu rlS Tie dISuillouU. WnlCu GuO
who favor revision will make when ii
time comes to convert the "standpa
ters.' ss...m.- - -.
The president may not refer to tn
question in his regular annual MESA,
to congress next month, but there is
growing impression that he will unde
take so to shape matters as to open t.
way, without serious friction, to
special session early next spring. I'll
will be the time farthest removed fro
campaign and revision therefore c;
be undertaken without risk to par
prestige Should revision sentime
fail to make. Roadway by next spriT
it may be that the entire matter w
be postponed two years, for it won
probably be unwise to bring it up in t
spring of 1906, on the eve Of the .fsc
year campaign and for similar reaso
it would be unwise to undertake an
thing just in advance of the next pre-
Dental election.
''Stand- Patters" Must BeBrought Ov
The best time, obviously, will be ne
spring, and revision will be undertak
then, I firmly believe, if the g star
patters'' can be made to understand
need for it. Of course, it could not
accomplished without their consent
proceed Independently of them wOr
be dangerous as well as abortive. I
Continued on Second Page.