The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-02-02
A Bio Straw.

a Zig straw.
"Straws show which way the wind
blows" Here is one-a big one at that
indicating the splitting of the Re-
publican party into two bitter, warning
factions, with the prospect of Demo
cratic house in 1906 and Of both a
Democratic president and Democratic
house in 1908. That President Roose-
welt earnestly desires tariff revision
downward to n reasonable basis must
be taken for granted by every sensible
person in the land. That he wants to
call an extra session of congress in
March to accomplish that is equally
clear. 1t IS also plain as pikestaff
| that large majority of Republicans Of
both houses and senate are opposed to
tariff revision or tariff tinkering. A
considerable minority favor 1t and are
insisting on a March session to do this
thing. President Roosevelt can cali
the extra session in March, If he so
desires, but will he? One stand patter,
when reminded that the president
might call congress together to revise
the tariff despite the stand pat ma
JOllly, Icpilttlt l1C Nuh ltuu thC nOlbS
to water, but he can't make him drink"
That is an impudent defiance Of the
White House. Suppose that he does
lead the congressional horse to the
| tariff revision water and that fractions
| animal refuses to drink. What then?
The Republican party pops open like a
watermelon, and war to the knife Is
inaugurated betwixt the White House
and the capitol. But will the president
issue the call for the extra session to
revise the tariff? If he does not, the
stand pattcrs will exploit his failure
| to do 80 as backdown on his part,
which would be as gall and wormwood
to him. The other day 1 was chatting
with Republican stand pat leader
who is my personal friend ON this phase
Of the matter and suggested that, judg-
ing the president by his record for
strenuosity, he would certainly call the
extra session, whereupon he, with a
grim smile, said, "There are other
strenuous persons, and there will be no
| extra session."
| 1t is said that under the direction of
Speaker Cannon close poll of the
house Republicans has been made
which shows an overwhelming senti-
ment against tariff revision. Neverthe-
less the Wisconsin delegation passed
these resolutions:
Whereas The national Republican plat
| form of 1896. upon which our present tariff
| law Is based declares that I'VE are not
pledged to any particular schedule. The
| question of rates is practical question
| to be governed by the conditions of the
time and of produetion;" and,
Whereas The national convention of 1904
| declares that 'the measure OF protection
should always at least equal the difference
| In the cost of production at home and
abroad. We insist upon the maintenance
| fore, rates of duty should be readjusted
only when conditions have so changed
that the public interest demands their al
| teration;' and,
| Whereas, We believe that conditions re-
garding the cost of production have SC
changed since the Dingley law was enact.
ed eight years ago that the rates of duty
provided for in certain schedules represent
more than the difference in cost of produc.
ton between articles manufactured in this
country and abroad; therefore,
Resolved. That the Republican members
OF the Wisconsin delegation In the house
OF representatives favor an early revision
| OF those schedules In the Dingley act
which are higher than is necessary to af-
ford adequate protection.
1t Is a beautiful, lovely fight as II
stands, from which there should come
much good to the Democracy and
therefore to the country.