The Washington times., 1906-01-14
PROTEST AGAINST
RETAL|ATORY FIGHT
Tariff Revision Side of @.
O. z. Attacks Proposal.
SCHEME OF THE RADICALS
Well4KnOwn Statesman Says America
Has No Reason 70 Fear Ger
man Movement.

The suggestion of legislative initia-
ton of d policy of tariff retaliation
against Germany has promptly raised a
vigorous protest from the tariff revision
side of the Republican party. 1T would
be fine piece OF business. 10 start Il
conditional raising OF tariffs at a time
when We are just getting ready for a
campaign which is likely to involve the
tarin more than any other issue, and III
which the Democrats are generally eN-
peoted 10 make large gains, said a we'll
known Republican.
IL is explained that Senator Aldrich.
who is apparently the chief mover in
the direction of a retaliatory elevation
OF schedules as against countries that
are Gnfriendly to America. has for a
long time had this idea In his mind 1t
has been one OF his pet schemes for
years. Recently he has seen. apparent
ly, opportunity TO do some successful
missionary work for it, and he has
grasped the opportunity with avidity-
Scheme Proposed.
The retaliation scheme simply pro-
poses, as a prominent Republican Sena-
tor put il. TO turn the maximum and
real scheme of the maximum and
minimum tariff advocates. is 10 main
tain present schedules as maXama and
then give the benefit of certain Teduc-
tions to countries that are willing to
grant like preferences TO the United
States. Senator SAldrich and his fol-
lowers would reverse this; they would
make present rates the minima, and
against countries which don't show
proper appreciation of their commercial
opportunities in this, would increase
these by, say . per cent This would.
IN short. be substituting a threat for
coaXing; il would be offering vinegar 70
dies that hate acids and like sweets; IL
would be an effort TO take advantage or
an unthinhng sentiment OF jingoism in
order to raise tariffs at a time when the
country manifests a decided desire TO
have them lowered.
These are the views expressed by in
huential Republicans who declare that
they VIII not consent TO any such retail
alton doctrine as the extreme high
tariff wing Is accused Of disseminating
Not Much Worried.
Il am not so much worried about this
pie are" said a Senator without whose
concurrence nothing very radical in
tariff legislation will be done Il think
it Is likely that we are going To have
a taste of the menu Germany has pre-
pared for us. There isn't apparently any
way out of it. But I don't think IT will
be by any means 50 serious as it is rep
resented by some, and I expect that its
quarters for effect. Germany will be in
jured "A good deal more than we. in my
opinion. ] understand the Germans are
already importing from this country
great quantities OF food stuffs OF the
sorts they have been wont to buy here,
in anticipation of the new regime.
They propose to raise by as high as
800 per cent the tariffs on some Of our
meat products. They intend. that is. TO
shut US out Anticipating the great raise
of prices when the new schedules take
effect March 1. the importers there are
gathering in great quantities Of these
staples OF course. IL is a speculative
movement. not an effort to fortify the
country against the siege ahead. AS soon
as the new tariff is effective the prices
will go up Then there will be tre~
mendOuS protest from lnGuStfldi Ocl 70
many. The agrarians are in control there
now. but the industrial interests Will
make themselves felt most effectively
when the pinch begins.
Folly to Retaliate.
I'VE can stand it far better than the
Germans can, and IL would be folly
to begin Tetaliating before anything
has struck US. The State Department
is stin negotiating with the Berlin
foreign office in the hope of reaching
an accommodation. Now. If before
the new German schedules take effect
we should pass a new tariff law. aimed
at the Germans, there would be Tar
less chance of accommodation and
agreement 1t would be the worst mis-
take The German schedules will take
effect March /. This Congress will be
in session some months after that, and
there will be plenty OF time to take
any radical action that seems to be
needed
1T will be better to try the thing
and let both sides see how the shoe
feels II they find it pinching neither
win care to wear it any longer than