Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-18
Committee on Arrangements Appoints All
Officers and Dictates Platform.
TURNS BACK UPON RECIPROCITY
Resolutions Demand Tariff with Maximum
and Minimum Schedules.
CREDENTIALS coISlTTttFAILs TO REPORT
seven Hundred Persous in Attendance,
but Actual Namber of Dele
gates VIII Never BE
Known.

CHICAGO, Aug. 17.-(Special Telegram.)-
Tbe National Reciprocity conference, which
closed somewhat animated session this
evening, was in so ne respects a success and
In all respects unique. II was called to
woke popular sentiment in favor of the
ratification OF reciprocity treaties with
European and South American countries
with whom better trade relations are de-
sired by American grain and meat export
ers. Instead of commencing and urging
reciprocity It turned it's back on reciprocity
under pretext that no more treaties could
he negotiated under the fourth section Of
the Dinsley tariff and endorsed as the i'm
peratsve and immediate remedy the maxi
mum and minimum tariff. which really
would mean a double standard tariff with
the minimum rates for countries that were
willing TO abandon hostile or discriminating
duties levied on American exports.
While the auditorium of the Illinois
thoater, which will seat about 700 people
on the ground floor, was at times crowded,
the actual number of delegates present
will always remain a mystery. The Gre
dentials committee failed to disclose the
list and not a single roll call was permitted
during the entire session. BY far the
largest representation was from the corn
ptlN SAdltHt with iowa pTJCOHllndllnBs ana
the Hawkeye delegates were practically
Cummins contingent, In fact, it was a
strictly Cummins convention, with the Cum
Minis Iowa idea impressed on every declara-
ton and resolve. While the democrats and
former populists appeared in the minority
they never lost an opportunity to cheer
/ every speaker who scored republican lead
~sers and especially republican senators and
every utterance disparaging the protective
policy.
Summed up In a nutshell the National
Reciprocity conference was like the play Of
Hamlet with Hamlet left out From the
political point Of view the conference was
admirably handled. The committee OF ar
rangements appointed the temporary chair
man and the permanent chairman. II also
named the entire committee ON resolutions
dictated the platform and finally appointed
the select committee of fifteen, who are to
conduct the double standard tariff cam
paign. - s..rt,s,. -.f.s-s
Report of Committee.
The first speaker was A. B. Farquhar of
Pennsylvania.
The chairman then called for the report
of the committee on resolutions and Chair
man E. N. Foss read the following resolu-
tion, which will be considered at a later
hour:
sentlng more than two hundred commercial,
agricultural and industrial associations by
delegates assembled at Chicago, August l6
and "a, 1905, hereby makes the following
deSlaratlon Of principles:
whereas The agricultural, manufacturers
ana other industrials of this country have
expansion TO such an extent that they can
no longer depend upon the home market for
the consumption of their entire product
and
Whereas, The export trade has become a
vital support to many of our Industries; and
al
tude of the United States, largely owing
\ TO our failure to carry into effect the
reciprocal trade provisions of section iV OF
F&he Dingley law. Is antagonizing foreign
nations, whose good will We desire and on
whom we have hitherto depended pur-
y chasers OF our surplus products, therefore
BE II Resolved First, that this conven-
ton, recognizing the principle of protec-
tion as the established policy of our coun-
try advocate reciprocal concessions by
tarin as the most adequate and practical
method OF relieving the strained situation
with which we are now confronted Sec
Ond that the question of the schedules and
items to be considered in such reciprocal
concessions preferable be suggested by a
permanent tariff commission, TO be crea ted
. by eongress and approved by the president
which shall consist of economic, indus,
trial and commercial experts. Third thai
1t is the sense of this convention thai
opportlnity for such concessions witbou
injury to Industry. trade or the wages OF
labor Fourth, that We urge action upor
congress at the earliest time possible.
cation be formed under the style of TIA,
American Reciprocal rarIh League. an,
by the chair TO have full power to organ
ize and further prosecute the work 70
which the conyention has assembled saiC
committee shall have power to increase IL
membership and to I'LL vacancies wheI
necessary.
Mr.. ROsewater Talks.
Mr. Edward Rosewater, editor of Th
Omaha Bee was introduced. He said n
was secretary OF the committee on resolu
tions of the republican national committe
of 1900 and wished to contradict the state
ment made in the reciprocity convention
that the republican party in its platform o
1900 and in 1904 had pledged itself to a re
vision OF the tariff and that II had violates
its pledge.
The republican partys greatest pledge
he said. was a continuance Of prosperity
and we have got IT, (ApplauseD Now tn
question Is, we at the cross roads, o
are we not on the upper trend to the high
est degree OF prosperity this country is cap
able OF having?
But remember there are methods o
reaching the republican congress tina
must be pursued by you here today 20
are not going to accomplish very muct
You cannot accomplish Il by denouncin
the tariff as a graft There is graft /
church and there is graft In Masonry an
other fraternal organizations, but yo
would not denounce the church or Masonr
because men have been found In the rank
who are grafters.' There is graft c
4 course, IN connection with the tarin, bu
D as a principle. the protective system ha
- built up the Industries of this Countr
and II Is because of the great invasio
of American industry 20 all parts OF th
world that you have had trouble whic
you are here called together TO conside
You never would have been here but fC
the fact that millions OF American product
have found their way into foreign couI
tries within the last year. I believe
carrying out the letter and spirit OF n
constitution. that reaches these question
by reciprocity l do not believe you can
BE Il by a double standard. That is precisel
what you propose here, the double star