The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-16
4 Tariff the Issue,

q ~ Mr. Hanna went to tho ST. Louis cOn-l
.Yention in 1896 with the determination
that the tariff should DO the issue In the
succeeding campaign. Democratic pollti-
clans In Washington say the tariff must
be tho issue this fall. Republican pollti-
clans fear tho tariff will be the Issue.
Both Democrats and Republicans almost
Invariably predict that tariff revision will
be the paramount questioned the cam-
gpnign. -s58f "A 5t5 5ss
The people made the coinage question
the issue In the campaign Of 1895, dcspite
the strenuous efforts OF the Republicans
10 force the tariff as the main subject
OF contest. The people always make s.
sues however dear to the heart OF the
politician is the belief that he decides
the questions the voters are to talk about
and to vote on. fa
XIII Democra tic leaders want the tariff to be
the Issue, and Republicans fear t Will be
i the issue. This causes both Democrats
end Republicans to express the opinion,
nine times tot ten, that the tariff VIII
be the paramount issue in the fall canl-
spaign.
It is a fact, however, that invariably
the first question asked OF a public man
when his name Is suggested for a. posi-
ton Is, :" How much of a radical is he ~
Tho reasons given for the course OF one
time enemies OF Mr.. Bryan in now boost
ing him for the nomination Is that he
has become by comparison conservative.
Everybody in Washngto ton who discussed
Mr.. Bryan and his chances for the nomi-
nation wanted to know what ne w, Wou !, 9
say about socialism, And when In his
recent Berlin interview he took the posi-
ton he had taken in his article IN the
April Century, advocating ain1iyidualisn
in opposition to socialism, there was
much pleasure Tho radica)ism or the
conservatism OF the man under discus
sion Is always a reason for the opposition
or support OF the men mentioned as ING ING
successor OF Mr.. Roosevelt n
Situation in Country.
In certain portions OF the country the
tariff Is making itself the issue. That Is
the way In which real Issues are always
made. In Massachusetts the manulac-
turers nre clamoring for moro liberal tar
If laws which shall allow them to obtain
cheaper raw material. and at the same
time permit them to have access to for
eign markets. A genuine anti-protectiye
tariff sentiment prevails among the farm
ers Of Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, MIN
nesota and the Dakotas. The iowa
fidca'' Is not dead by any means, but is
manifesting itself in the campalgn Tor
the Republican gubernntorial nomination
in that State. where Governor a. g.
jCummins the originator Of the idea, ap-
pears TO have administered an overwhel'n-
Ing defeat to his opponent for the nomi-
nation, who stood on a stand pat" plat-
form. In other sections of the country
there Is sincere agitation Of the tariff
question. In others there are Ind lcat lions
that the tariff has not been seriously
considered this year as an ISSUE In the
campaign. p. /. 4. J.
The Democrats of Tennessee, the other
day, for instance. forgot to mention the
tariff in the platform OF principles
II, Is by no means certain tina the tarlH
can be made the paramount issue, Two
years must pass fore the next preslaeh-
lial campaign, Another consress SWlll pe
chosen before that time arrives may
be that Congress- will 40 something 70
make tho tariff an issue Mr. Roosevelt
has declared In favor OF vlsion. OF some
OF tho schedules, and i - IN his power
10 revive the question by Q message 20
Congress- at any time. lie has talked OF
sending In such message almost ever
since his inauguration, # 3
This question OF socialism VIII NOT
down, no matter though, the tariff pc
mado foremost issue Of the canlpalsl
Tho extremely radical tendencies Of Mr..
Roosevelt, the equally radical doctrines
Of Mr.. FIearst.sand the conservative IN
terIlretations put upon the v tterancas O
| Mr.. Bryan, will keep alive the ,feellng
and tho war between the radicals and
conservatives. III K 5.s4. e y, s.
Democratic are praying that the tarlfl
may he the Issue this year. liepu pllcans
are not decided as to what they wish
the foremost issue to he-thcy are wnlt-
Ing to hear from the country,
r-------o---------------- y. III fyE 81