Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-01
NO REVISION.
Senator Hale Says Tariff
Is All Right.
No Public Sentiment in Favor
Of Radical Change.
Vigorous Argument for Protection by
Names Distinguished Senator.

| Washington. Nov. Ex-senator Hale
OF Maine. who has arrived in the city
| 1or the Forthcoming congressional ses-
| sion, is marShaling his forces to fight
| taflii revision when the movement in
'aVor of changing the Dingley law
reaches the upper branch of Congress.
Mr.. Hale is a decided and deter
mined "Etand-patter' and has no toler-
;lnce for the agitation in favor of re-
vision. He says the Dingley law
| should not be mo,ested. and exnressed
the opinion tonight that there would be
10 revision during the 5ath Congress.
He scouts the idea that any really se!i-
Gus sentiment in favor of revision eX-
lists and controverts the opinion which
| has been expressed that :he Massachu-
sets gubernatorial election was decid-
ed upon the tariff and Canadian reci-
| irocity issues.
| Il have heard considerable talR
about revision said Senator Hale
| but i'll my opinion it has been based
! upon but little genuine and substantial
| foundation All this talk is of a mer-
curiai nature. | have heard similar
| expressions of ill-timed sentiment III
times past, especially in MasSachu-
sets. Recalling the time OF Benja-
min Butler. note that agitations of
like character have been set on foot,
As matter OF fact. | do not believe
that there really is much sentiment in
favor of tariff revision in Massachu-
sets or anywhere else in the country
The recent elections showed plainly
that the people of the entire North are
satisfied Wit let in i'm Il Il
not desire change. If the election in
Dictated anything. il surely indicated
that.
This talk that Douglas was elected
Governor of Massachusetts over Bates
on account of the fact that he favored
revision and Canadian reciprocity is
without warrant. The real facts in tie
case are that the election was won
upon grounds of Il local character sim
ply. Gov. Bates antagonZed the la
boring element and thereby got the
disfavor of the working man. He also
estranged the old soldier vote by his
policy as Governor and lost the sup
port of tie veterans of the state. These
two clements were largely responsible
for his defeat and the election of Doug
las. Tariff revision and Canadian re-
r!proCitr, in Fly opinion. figured insig-
niticantiy in the net result.
Il think that Congress should Stanc
pat and fight the revision agitation
AS far as ! am concerned. | shall do
everything possible to defeat it. | do
not believe that existing conditions
should he disturbed. To attempt to
revise the tariff without going into the
whole subject thoroughly and funda-
mentally is impossible. If we start re-
vision. we must so to the very roots
of the whole proposition and thresh the
entire matter from the bottom up.
There can be no superficial revision.
What would be the natural result OF
such action. therefore? The outcome
would be that business conditions
would be disturbed and upset and the
business Of the country thrown into II
state Of disorder. Disaster would fol-
low and we would soon perceive that
We had made Il great mistake.
1t all involves n very dangerous
step. This is d matter that cannot be
dealt with offhand and in hurry. We
should ponder long and well before we
move.
Expressing my individual opinion. I
am free to say that | do not believe
that there will be any revision during
the coming Congress. There is no ne
| Cessity for it. Every friend of Amer-
can industry and every man who wants
to see our wonderfully prosperous con-
ditions continue 10 prevail should fight
this movement to its DEATH
Senator Hale added: THE President
is no novice in politics. In this hour
of triumph | do rot think the party
need fear that he will do anything to
weaken or disrupt il. as any attempt
at tariff revision would certainly do
both.
On his return from st. Louis tomor-
row President Roosevelt will find him
self confronted with an opposition
from influential members of Congress
to a revision Of the tariff so formidable
that il can only be overcome by de-
termined executive and probably after
a long campaign.
Speaker Cannon. whose views are
expected to have great effect on the
action of The President, arrived here
today and made ii clear that he is OPP
posed to tariff revision. The stand
patters" have made visible gains today
and. so far as can be ascertained the
Ievis;onistS have lost ground. With
Speaker Cannon opposing revision in
the House and protectiOnist members
Of the Senate becoming almost defiant
il would appear very doubtful whether
any revision of the tariff were possible.
eli in he