Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-22
Massachusetts, and Reciprocity.
This comes from Boston:


AT special meeting today of the COM
mittee of one hundred of the Boston cham
Der of commerce. appointed to consider the
general question of reciprocity, it was voted
that committee of eleven be appointed to
consider and report what further action
should be taken toward the Endorsement of
a candidate for state office pledged to the
advocacy of reciprocity and tariff revision
The meeting also adopted a declaration on
reciprocity and tariff revision. In this it is
asserted that the country is confronted with
commercial and economic situation which
threatens alike American varied interests
and industries The declaration proceeds:
We believe a revision of the tariff upon
the principle of reciprocity to be necessary,
and we affirm that the adoption of a maxi
mum and minimum tariff system, having for
its purpose reciprocity rather than retalia-
tion, Is best calculated to promote and MAIN
tain rational system of protection and to
guarantee the equitable treatment of all for
egn nations.
The typical attitude of Germany. our
second largest foreign customer. emphasizes
the practical character of reciprocity as
political proposition. The tendency of the
Hay-Bond treaty with Newfoundland and
our unsettled commercial relations with the
Dominion OF Canada most urgently call for
immediate action.
We earnestly indorse the reported in
tentfon of President Roosevelt to call a spe-
clai session of Congress for the immediate
revision of the tariff
The closing paragraph of the above con-
tains news that we lack in this town. Moth
Ing Is current here to support the hope that
"a special session of Congress will be called
for the immediate revision Of the tariff -
Special session talk first concerned itself
with the tariff. and then with the railroad
rate question. but the little that remains Of
IL now Is extremely vague and scarcely at
tracts attention. In many quarters no spe-
cial session for any purpose is expected
If tariff revision sentiment on reciprocity
lines Is as strong in Massachusetts as
claimed by number Of business bodies, why
not. as suggested by this Boston deliver
ance. make an issue of 1t in the coming state
campaign? Why not put aside the Miles
boom, which has no relation to anything in
particular, and nominate a man for gov
ernor who in his views and record distinct
ly represents the tariff revision issue? A vic
tory on that line next November In the
heart of New England would necessarily in-
fiuence Congress on the subject, whether
the session begins before. or on, the regular
day of meeting. The standpatters would
not be able to whistle verdict like that
down the wind.
Mr.. Douglas victory last fall was without
significance on the larger issues before the
country. He stood, 1t is true, for tariff re-
vision and reciprocity, but his election was
due not to his own strength or to his
platform. but to the personal unpopularity
of his republican opponent He profited by
the displeasure which the people visited on
an official who had gone counter to their
wishes on a local matter. But If there Is a
man Of the Douglas type-clean Of life,
strong with the business world. and of rec
ognized executive force-who can carry the
state this year on a platform calling for
an enlarged foreign trade on reciprocity
lines, that cause would be materially ad-
vanced by his nomination and election.