Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-03-10
THE ISSUE BETWEEN THE
PARTIES.


member OF congress from this district,
The Democrat said:
"The nominee, whether he be Mr..
Babcock or some friend OF the state
administration, will probably declare
himself In favor Of q slight reduction
of import duties. But he will first be
sure TO say the party creed, emphasiz-
ing particularly that portion which
acknowledges the divinity OF the policy
of so-called protection.
at Ii between the parties that the
national issues must be joined In this
district. The protective policy has
furnished shelter for trusts and the
campaign of 1904 will be waged for
and against the domination OF tariff
protected trusts. The democrats Of
this Third district ought TO nominate
candidate for congress who will
stoutly champion n policy OF CONNER
cial freedom against policy OF com
mercial restriction; and the people
ought to elect him.. J."
The republican convention for the
Third congressional district was held
at Baraboo on Wednesday Of last
week, and resulted in the renomina
tion OF Mr.. Babcock, who was present
and delivered IL speech Of acceptance.
From the published report Of that
speech we reprint below portion
which alludes to the tariff question::
"As your representative In congress
/ have endeaVored TO reflect, TO the
best OF my ability, the sentiment Of
the district In national legislation.
How well | have succeeded you must
be tho judges. You have stood Tor all
that is good In the great questions that
have come up and have been disposed
OF during the last ton years, and great
est of all has boon the enactment into
law OF n protective tariff on republican
lines. | have been criticised
for alleged Inconsistency In my action
upon tho tariff. | announced distinctly
and repeatedly my opinion that under
existing conditions the rates Of duty
In tho metals and some other schedules
were too high, and that In view OF
combinations In manufacturing indus
tries tending to repross competition ut
homo the public interest demanded m
early reduction Of the rates of duty In
some Of the schedules of tho Dlngley
law, aud | introduced In congress N
bill to carry into effect tho views which
/ entertain. ! have never departed
from tho opinions which | then nm
nounced, and which were embodied In
that bill, and which found support not
only In this district, but to II largo eX-
tent throughout the state. That the
measure aid not pass was through no
: want OF effort upon my part. My po-
sitlon has been misrcprosontod but
not misunderstood anywhere In the
United States. The majority OF my
associates In the house were NJ that
time not In favor Of taritl' revision,
influenced largely by the well known
fact that In tho senate u single tariff
proposition would open all the tarili
schedules TO revision, found could
only succeed In the passage of the
measure NJ that time 10y n combina-
tion among the proticttouat republic
cans who thought MS | thought, and
the solid free trade democracy Of tho
house. 1t was " partnership into
which republican members, upon so
great subject, wero unwilling to en-
ter, lest 1t disrupt the party on the
question of protection and thereby en-
danger the policy under which tho
country, and all classes OF the coun-
try, have prospered. | found agree
ment with me In many quarters, among
mon In high position, as to tho wisdom
OF tho changes indicated, but | found
also radical indisposition TO endanger
Ihn Atuinl nI tho a thn A. az
protection by invoking democratic
assistance, the motive of which was
tho destruction Of projections 81
III Is my hope and belief that tho re-
publican national convention, coon to
be held, will In It's platform, while ad-
herring To tho principle and policy of
protection, pledge itself to make such
changes In the tarill us will adapt IT,
to changed conditions, NJ the same
time affecting no industry or the labor
engaged IN it TO unfair competition
from abroad. | shall do everything
In my powor to promote the adoption
of such pledge"
From the words OF Mr.. BabcocS
above quoted, it appears that he Is an
unquestloning believer ia socallod
protective tariff taxation; that he be-
lieves that numerous tariIT schedules
are too high; and that he favors the
reduction Of these schedules, provided
such reduction can be secured by aud
with the consent of the republican
party. We repeat what we have said
before, that right here the Issue ought
To be joined by tho democratic party
in the district, in the adoption of "
low tariff platform and In the nominal
tion OF pronounced low tariff caudi-
date, and by II strong appeal to all
voters in the district who would place
district and country before party In
tho election of n representative in
congress. True II Il that u good plat
form was adopted last year and u very
excellent candidate nominated; but
unfortunately the congressional con
test was allowed to be Swallowed by
a. ~ nn1,nu n a.,