Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-08-17
A DEMAND FOR REFORM
Growing Sentiment In Favor of
Revision.
THE ISSUE IN MASSACHUSETTS,

Republicans Climbing Aboard the
Reciprocity Band Wagon they
Have Been Deceived by the Nation
al Representatives of Their Party
on the Tariff Question.
Reciprocity with Canada and other
countries is II of the complications
Of tariff reform. In Massachusetts this
issue is already being discussed in the
newspapers and by Republican poll
ticians preparatory to the campaign
for state officers this fall. 1t would
seem to be homogeneous to inject such
a discussion into a purely state cam
paign and especially for the Office Of
lieutenant governor, upon which it
now seems to center, but as an indica-
ton that tariff reform is an issue that
cannot be laid Oh the shelf, however
much the protected interests may wish
to so relegate it. The discussion is
welcome. When protected New Eng
land is declaring for reciprocity and
demanding a revision Of tariff SEIZED
ules we cannot be far from seeing
| such a necessary reform taken up by
congress and settled upon a business
basis.
The Boston Globe editorially declares
that reciprocity with Canada, how
ever, is an issue that will figure con-
| spicuously in the coming state cam
paign. The cas- for this is that tens
Of thousands of Massachusetts Repub-
licans have been deceived by the ma
tional representatives of their party on
the tariff question and reciprocity trea-
ties.'
It will be remembered that &C, Re
publicans Of Massachusetts in the cam
paign last year signed memorials to
congress in favor Of reciprocity, and
probably these voters had a good deal
to do with the election of the Demo
cratic governor last fall, who stood
on a tariff reform platform. The Home
Market club, an adjunct Of the Protec-
tive Tariff league, claims that ''reci-
procity is dead" while ex-Congress-
man Eugene N. Foss declares in a late
interview that, Judging by the way
LII pOAAIAN1oAS III AhoSooSAu-
sets are climbing aboard, it would
seem that the reciprocity team is more
Of a band wagon than a hearse."
The crucial test this year is the eff
feet this discussion will have upon the
Republican congressman from Nassa.
chuSettS when the time arrives next
winter for the ways and mean com
| Yoitfon To nonci10~ to ,;f "a ,o,-;rio,, ,,,l ",
Strengthening the purpose of President
Roosevelt in making strong recommen-
dations to congress to take up reel
procity INC tariff revision. There is
no doubt that a majority of the Re.
publicans elect to the coming congress
are opposed to tariff meddling in any
form, but if those Republican congress.
men who do favor reform are willing
to act Independently Of their party on
this issue they will find the Democrats
ready and willing to aid them in pass
ing any revision Of the tariff schedules
that are now unreasonable. Especial
~ would the Democrats co-operats to
revise those schedules that foster
trusts, that allow the combines to sell
their products cheaper abroad than
here.
The Republican stand pat argument
that it is useless for the house of rep,
resentatives to pass or even consider
a bill to revise the tariff because the
Republican senate will not agree to it
Is merely a subterfuge to prevent re.
vision. 1t is evidently the duty of
x-I@ l@lSo-~ IT, A@-snc .~a-,.@ =,
push it in the coming congress, and
if the senate refuses to pass q reason.
able bill to appeal to the country Oh
that issue and the voters will attend to
the One-third Of the senate whose terms
expire March 8. 1907, of whom sixteen
are Republicans and ten are undoubt-
edly stand patters, but some of whom
even for prudential reasons might vote
OF the side of the people as against
the protected interests if called upon tc
&C Oh record.
The tens Of thousands Of Massachu.
sets Republicans that the Globe
speaks Of Who have been deceived by
the Representatives of their party on
the tariff and reciprocity questions aPe
but in the same condition as Republic
ans of other states and in numbers no
less in Sorne Of them. Those Republic
III voters VINO have been deceived by
the action OF past congresses nave only
themselves to blame. Most OF them
know their party is dominated by the
stand patters and that their only op,
portunity to enforce reform is to elect
a congress that is pledged to revision,
The Demo cratic party is by tradition
for q revenue tariff, and its representa-,
tives by education and training arc
almost without exception favorable tc
tariff reform that Will relieve the PEG.
pie from trust robbery and ut he's same
time produce enough revenue to ruI
the government.
The Express ~ornh1ne
The mex congress will be called upon
l.