The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-18
PRESIDENT HAS
ENDORSED TAF I.
Declares Attitude Of Secretary
on Panama Canal Matter
Is Correct
GREAT STRUGGLE COMING
Storm in Republican Ranks
Growing in Nolume-Action
Of Manufacturers.
GREAT STRUGGLE
COMING
trrom our Regular Correspondent.

tFrom Our Regular Correspondent)
WASHINGTON, u. c., May II Tho
declaration made by Secretary Taft Mon
day that the 1sthmian Canal Commission
would purchase ships and other supplies
in foreign markets because they could
be procured more cheaply abroad, has
caused a storm IN tho Republican, party,
the like of which has not been witnessed
before In the history of the u. o. p,
1t is s;ili growing and there is no indi-
cation Of its blowing over until the Con-
gress has taken some action. And even
then the declaration of the Secretary
must stand as a constant argument in
the hands OF Democrats. or whatever
party stands for the reduction of tariff
tax
The President said to-day that Sec
rotary Taft's position was entirely corr
rect. Nobody In Washington doubts that
the President really caused the an
nouncement to be made by his Secrc-A
tary Of War, under whose direct control
is the commission. which has charge of
the work OF constructing the canal. The
President has found 1t harder to bring Il
majority Of the leaders of the party to-
his way of thinking concerning the tariff
than to induce n majority to side with
4 him In the matter of rate regulation He
declared for revision Of the tariff al
most as soon rs the returns were in after
the election last fall and he has been
hammcrinS on the party managers ever
Il since. trying to induce them to agree
to reduction of dues in the interest of
the consumer
He has failed to make an apparent i'm
preston, From the Northwest and the
. far West, there has come a demand for
reduction Of tariff and the Republicans
of those sections have not hestatcd to
endorse the Presidents views. But the
protection Republicans Of the East and
+ Central West have stood pat It is an
open secret that the President has felt
considerable chagrn at his inability to
move the leadership Of the Republican,
Z party In the East to his way of think
ing. The declaration Of the Secretary of
War is Enthusiastically an attempt Of
the executive to force the hand OF Com
sress.
President Roosevelt doesn't care ran
for the Republican party. His dcclar,-5
ton at the lroquois Club in Chicago tho
other night that in matters affecting
the government In Washington officials
should overlook party questions and heed
solely the interests of tho people ut
large. was clearoutline of his policy.
1t is not assertc dby Democrats that
there has never been time when the
President did not follow this course,
But since his election he has given many
signs that he pays scant attention to the
aims Of party when it comes to admin
istcrng the affairs OF his office
The fact that President Roosevelt is
theoretically free trader should not
be forgotten for moment, a strong
and united minority party In Congress
could make the lot Of tho Republicans
this coming season about as hard as
that of any majority in the history of
the country. Neither adjective is hardly
accurate when applied to the present
congressional minority. The outspokcn
declara ton of the Secretary of War,
that the prices which the government
would have to pay for material for the
construction of the canal is so great
under our protective system. that the
purchases will have to be made abroad,
and the hearty Endorsement which the
President has accorded this determine
ton. form n confession of the incquali-
ties and the iniquities of the protective
tariff policy that is not only unique, but
astounding There can be but one re-
suit of this contest which the Presl-
dent has made certain. There will be
long and thorough consideration of the
tariff question at the coming session of
Congress 1t may be that the President
will not be able to win out, even with
the aid OF the DEMOCRATS. but the coun-
try. which iss'nlrGady5 asking why the
government should be allowed to have
the advantages Of cheaper goods from
abroad while the consumer has to pay
whatever price Is asked by the protected
home manufacturer, will hardly be sat
isfied with less than an answer. which
is action The people are pretty apt to
kaSist upon reduction.