Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-08-17
A DEMAND FOR REFORM
Growing Sentiment In Favor of
Revision.
THE ISSUE IN MASSACHUSETTS,

SGVupAAcuh S1AmDlHH ADOOrU the
Reciprocity Band Wngon They
Have Been Deceived by the Nation
al Representatives of Their Party
on the Tariff Question.
Reciprocity with Canada and other
countries is II Of the complications
of tariff reform. In Massachusetts this
issue is already being discussed in the
newspapers and by Republican poll
ticians preparatory to the campaign
for state officers this fall. 1t would
seem to be fncongruous to inject such
a discussion into q purely state cam
paign and especially for the Office of
lieutenant governor, upon which it
now seems to center, but as an indica-
ton that tariff reform is an issue that
cannot be laid Oh the shelf, however
much the protected interests may wish
to so relegate it. The discussion is
welcome. When protected New Eng
land is declaring for reciprocity and
demanding a revision of tariff sched-
ules we cannot be far from seeing
such a necessary reform taken up by
congress and settled upon a business
basis.
The Boston Globe editorially declares
that reciprocity with Canada, how
ever, is an issue that will figure CON
spicuously in the coming state cam
paign. The reason for this is that tens
Of thousands of Massachusetts Repub-
licans have been deceived by the ma
tional Representatives of their party Oh
the tariff question and reciprocity trea-
ties"
It will be remembered that 10000 Re
publicans of Massachusetts in the cam
paign last year signed memorials to
congress in favor of reciprocity. and
probably these voters had a good deal
to do with the election Of the Demo
cratic governor last fall, who stood
on a tariff reform platform. The Home
Market club, an adjunct Of the Protec-
tive Tariff league, claims that "reci-
procity is dead" while ex-Congress-
man Eugene N. Foss declares in a late
interview that, Judging by the way
the cleverest politicians in Massachu-
sets are climbing aboard. it would
seem that the reciprocity team is more
Of a band wagon than q hearse.'
The crucial test this year is the eff.
feet this discussion will have upon the
Republican congressman from Nassa-
chusetts when the time arrives next
winter for the ways and means com
m1ttee to consider tariff revision and in
strengthening the purpose of President
Roosevelt in making strong recommen.
datiOnS to congress to take up reel
procity and tariff revision. There is
nc doubt that a majority Of the Re
publicans elect to the coming congress
are opposed to tariff meddling in any
form, but if those Republican congress
men who do favor reform are willing
to act Independently Of their party or
this issue they will find the Democrats
ready and willing to aid them in pass
ing any revision Of the tariff schedules
that are now unreasonable. Especial
~ would the Democrats co-operats tx
revise those schedules that foster
trusts, that allow the combines to sci
their products cheaper abroad thai
here.
The Republican stand pat argumen'
that it is useless for the house of rep
resentatives to pass or even consider
a bill to revise the tariff because the
Republican senate will not agree to i
is merely a subterfuge to prevent re
vision. 1t is evidently the duty o,
those who believe in tariff reform t,
push it in the coming congress, anl
If the senate refuses to pass a reason
able bill to appeal to the country OIL
that issue and the voters will attend t,
the one-third Of the senate whose terms
expire March 3. 1907, of whom siXteel
are Republicans and ten are undoubt
edly stand patters. but some of whom
even for prudential reasons might vot'
OF the side Of the people as agains
Unprotected interests if called upon t
90 III record.
The tens of thousands Of Massachu
sets Republicans that the Glob
speaks Of Who have been deceived b.
the Representatives Of their party OF
the tariff and reciprocity questions up
but III the same condition as Republic
n Of other states and in numbers n
less in some Of them. Those Republic
an voters Who have been deceived b.
the action Of past congresses AVE on!.
themselves to blame. Most OF then
know their party Is dominated by tn
stand patters and that their only op
portunity to enforce reform is to cleo
a congress that is pledged to revision
The Demo cratic party is by tradition
for q revenue tariff, and its representa-
!: tives by education and training ar
!: almost without exception favorable t
!: tariff reform that will relieve the pee
pie from trust robbery and at the sam
: tima roIuc enough revenue to I'll