The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-22

brings everything back with a jump
| to where it was Tuesday morning. He
is playful, but unequivocal. The more
one studies his two meaty sentences
the more the hollowness of all that
has been said and written about re-
cession becomes apparent. OF course,
the secretary of war would not issue
such a def without the knowledge of
the president. It is, therefore, full of
important meaning for the builders of
tariff walls. It might seem to be cal
culated to draw the fire of the worthy
gentlemen who guide the destinies of
congress and who have been diligent
of late finding excuses for the presi-
dent.
Trusts OFFER Terms.
Representatives of the big trusts
which will be bidders for furnishing
supplies to construct the Panama
canal are falling over each other in
their anxiety to get the ear of Secre-
tary Taft and Chairman Shonts of the
canal commission, to tell them that
they will furnish supplies to the gov
eminent as cheap as any foreign man
ufacturer. The pronuncian anto of
the administration has brought re-
suits and the protected Industries are
fastening to make peace before a.
tariff revision crusade gets a foot
hold
Among other concerns which have
offered terms is the steel trust. A
representative of that company has
already informed Secretary Taft that
/ the government can have anything it
wants at the trusts foreign prices,
7 provided 1t will transport the supplies
to the isthmus. No answer has been
made, but it is probable the trust may
/ be called upon to deliver the goods on
/ the isthmus at the same price it sells
them in England if the shipping facili-
i ties to the isthmuS can be arranged.
j Another move on the part of the
4 administration which may help the
/ American manufacturers to furnish
/ these supplies is expected to mate
rialize soon. It will be an extension
of the drawback privileges on all
goods containing any foreign material
in their mpositiOn. The manufac-
turers who are here say this will be a
substantial aid to them.
Rail Pool Started II.
Chicago May 22.-Walter Wellnan in
| a letter to the Record-Herald last week
| said:
After stirring up the biggest political
I sensation of the year with it's Panama
| canal policy of buying in the cheapest
market. the administration has slightly
/ modified its programme in the interest
/ of peace. Instead of buying foreign
/ ships to carry materials and supplies
to the isthmus, the government viii
( lease vessels abroad to tide over the
present emergency. If, later on, Amer
| lean shipbuildiers make advantageous
propositions to build ships suitable for
/ the use OF the canal commission the
/ government may buy at home.
Speaker Cannon and other influential
men have begged the president not to
go too far with his new policy, and the
president has said he had no desire to
discriminate against American manu-
facturers or ship builders. What he
has insisted upon and still insists upon
is that the government shall not be i'm
posed upon by the trusts under the
cloak of adherence to the American
policy of protection. In speaking to q
friend the other day the president sai6
he would compel the trusts to s'take
their feet out of the trough" and this
is an expression that is likely to live
among the famous sayings of Theodore
: Roosevelt. Probably it will be a long
+ time before the last is heard of it. One
: may be sure it viii be taken up in the
:, newspapers and in congress and future
! political campaigns. There need be ne
: surprise if it goes laundering down the
ages"
, 1t is now well known, as L have here
tofOre pointed out, that the start of thi:
whole rumpus was the insistence of ths
steel rail pool upon charging the gov
eminent the domestic price, or SIS a ton
for the steel rails needed to double
track the Panama railroad. The gov
: eminent wanted the export price, or 81
I a ton, and the indications today ar,
: that the rail pool has weakened and
l win sell at the lower figure.