The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-17
Fine Campaign Material Offer
ed TO The Democrats
GEN, GROSVENOR Is ANl7'.
Cannot Believe That Administration
viii Have Effrontery to Discrim-
mate Against Americans In the
Purchase of Canal Supplies.

Washington, May l6.-(speeial)-A pro-
found sensation was created among those
republican high tariff congressman who
are still in town by the announcement
that the isthman canal commission had
definitely decided to purchase supplies for
the canal construction in foreign markets
on the score of getting goods cheaper
than they can be furnished by American
manufacturers.
1t was the opinion of all the congress-
men that this move on the Part of the
commission is fraught with political pos
sibilties OF moment, and is certain to
create stir throughout the country. One
prominent high tariff senator. expressing
his amazement said he would have TO
withhold comment until he mad seen the
official endorsement of Secretary Taft
upon the commissions action He could
hardly credit the statement that the COM
mission proposed to purchase a consid-
cradle amount of supplies abroad, dis
eliminating against American goods An
other senator who ranks high with the
republican party said he would regard
the action as highly unfortunate and Ger
tain to bring the republicans face to face
with the tariff issue in it's keenest form.
He said It would give the democratic
party just the weapon it most needed in
its fight against the protective tariff sys-
tenn
Grosvenor in Bad Humor.
Representative Grosvenor of Ohio, a
leading republican on the ways and means
committee, a lieutenant of Mckinley and
of Dingley in the preparation of the two
great tariff bills of recent times, and a
recognized veteran of the party. was in
no genial mood after reading the an
nouneoment lie said:
This proposition TO buy ships abroad
is the result of our laggard policy in
reference to the building up of the Amer
lean merchant marine. We have permitted
our merchant service to decay until we
have no ships, have no trained sailors
to man ships il they are purchased
abroad, and we are wholly dependent up
on foreigners. We pay the foreigners $780,
100000 year in freights, and the whole
thing is disgrace to American intelli-
gence
Our Presidents have never taken hold
| " 'iie s""Je't WIN NlbVi lHe4 nave co"-
tented themselves with mild comment and
| recommendations, put nave not made
praetleal suggestions nor Followed them
with the persistency that some other poli-
cies nave been urged
Here at this time the very vitals OF
| the country are being stirred over the
| question of lower railroad rates when our
rates now are lower than those of Ger
many and some other countries. / wish
that we could be as much interested in
the upbuildlng of our merchant marine
which Is very essential part Of the
| freight carrying business"
| what do you think of the proposition
| to buy general supplies broadg' Cen
eral Grosvenor was asked.
! a..
rro'ee''''s''
I do not desire to be placed in the aa-
| tltude of a critic, he said Il am pro-
tectionist. We have built up the policy
| of protective tariff In this country on the
| basis of higher prices Those prices were
| higher because we paid our labor better
| wages. People have become more cogni-
| zant every year of the benefits OF that
| policy and understand the reason FOR
higher prices. The country would rather
pay little more for something that
was made at home. furnished employment
for home folk and gave them better pay
| than their more unfortunate neighbors
abroad enjoyed
If the government Is to be the COM
| plainant against the prices that are the
| result OF TINS employment OF American
| labor at American wages, 1t will GER
tainly furnish a theme for some very
interesting deliberations over the tariff"
Raiee Howl of Protest
'a''e
General HrosFehoi reHatks rehecleu
the views oi other consressinen VINO ana
not care at TINS uile ~ pupheiy express
them. IL was deeiareu tnat as soon as
the industries Oh tue country AWAKE 10
the true slsnlhcahee OF the proposed IN
tention OF the commission TO go abroad
Tor supplies now OF protest wiz come
from mill men an through the lndustrlal
section and that washington Will be the
center OF a storm OF protest that VIII
howl around the oHlelais' fhe high tarit
men say that II my pe possible 10 head
off the contemplated action but that the