The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-12-14
Immediate Tariff Revision.n

Since the election the lecture business
has taken me into and through twenty
states from the gulf to the Canadian
line. | have talked with all conditions
of men of all shades of political opin-
ions. | have listened much more than
L have talked. From all | have read
and heard | am convinced that the
stand patters will have the time of
their lives to keep the tariff revision is
sue down at this session Of congress.
The demand for ii is so strong. wide
spread and insistcnt that it will even
penetrate the thick walls of the capitol,
and in the south end of that building
this winter there will be many Repub-
lican statesmen who, representing
Democratic or close districts, will have
very sensitive tympanums. Mr.. Speak
er Cannon may talk as much as he
pleases about his disinclination to see
''the country held up by the tail" but
the aforesaid representatives, holding
their places by feeble and uncertain
tenure, will be constantly prupounding
to themselves this leading question:
what will it profit us to vote so as
to enable the stand patters to gain an.
other big slice of the world if we are
to lose our own seats in the house of
representatives." Self preservation is
the first law of nature, and it will
operate upon the minds and actions of
these Republican statesmen who find
themselves in Il precarious and delicate
situation. That illustrious Missourian
Mark Twain, has sagely remarked,
Human nature is strong, and we all
have heap of it in u.s." Republican
representatives constitute no exception
to Marks rule.
The Republicans have III majority
in the house. If fifty-eight of them
should conclude that tariff revision is
good thing there will be tariff re-
vision in the house, for every Demo
crat would vote for it.
The demand is not local. 1t extends
from Cape Cod to Omaha. Governor
Albert B. Cummins. an ambitious
statesman out in Iowa, liz fighting for
it tooth and nail Since this falls cleo
tions he has been joined by Governor
Elect Curtis Guild of Massachusetts.
AS matter of fact, so far as l have
been able TO discover after diligent in
quiry, the movement for tariff revision
and genuine reciprocity is stronger in
Massachusetts than in any other Re-
publican state. 1t would seem strange
to see the old Bay State lead the cru
sade for tariff revision and for reci-
procity, bur in the present posture of
affairs it is possible, perhaps probable.
A philosopher once said THE most |
sensitive nerve in the human anatomy |
is the nerve leading to the pocketbook," |
and nowhere Is that nerve more sensi- |
tive than among the thrifty people of |
Under the sacred Ding
ley bill, which stand patters tell us is
the fount of every blessing Massachu-
setts sees her cotton Industries going
to the south and her boot and shoe in
1ustries going to st. Louis, and she in
alarm for her future sends up n Mace
1onian cry for free raw materials.
Finding that she was not likely to get
free raw materials without relinquish-
ng part OF the tariff on boots. shoes,
harness and leather, she has advanced
'ar enough to be willing to do that.
1t will be remembered that Governor
"a Democrat, was elected last
iear largely by reason of his advocacy
If tariff revision.
Governor Elect Guild, Republican, is
low singing the same song as Douglas.
Governor Guilds letter to President
Roosevelt is liable to be regarded as
IN epoch maker in Massachusetts pol
tics.
This sentence develops the cause of
he demand by Massachusetts Repub-
leans for tariff revision: "The Repub.
lean ticket, in my Judgment, would
ave been overwhelmingly defeated if
ur platform, on which both Mr.. Dra-
er and l stood, had not contained
lank indorsing the position taken last
pring by our delegation in congress
avoring immediate tariff revision"
That is the moving why" Governor
Iulld ct Id genus omne are in hurry
induce President Roosevelt to help
lem down the arrogant stand patters.
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