The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-11
! Chicago Papers Say He Shar-
ed the Honors With Speak
er Cannon at Banquet.
INTERVIEW GIVEN OUT
THE SIXTH DISTRICT CONGRESS-
MAN TALKS INTERESTINGLY
ON THE GENERAL CONDITION
OF THE PRESENT CAMPAIGN.

All of the Chicago newspapers pay
tribute to Congressman Watson as
well as Speaker Cannon in the pub
1ished accounts of the Marquette club
banquet held at the Auditorium hotel
on Tuesday night. Congressman
Watson was at his best and the Chi
cago Tribune says that he shared the
honors of the evening with the dis
1inguished speaker, his address being
one of the bright spots of the even
ing. The Tribune adds that Cannon
was honored for what he is and
Watson for what he says"
Watson on the Issues.
In an interview given out Tuesday
relative to the political situation in
general, Congressman Watson talked
interestingly of the chief issues In
the present campaign.
Il Think said he, that the tariff is
not real issue in this campaign and
that no amount of tariff agitation by
the Democrats will make it an issue
Probably it approaches the dignity of
an issue more nearly in Iowa than in
any other state where we have spo-
ken. There is considerable sentiment
for tariff revision in Iowa, but even
there the people are not willing that
The tariff shall be revised by the
Democrats.
Il find that everywhere tariff revis-
ionistS are awakening to the fact that
the greatest hope for tariff revision is
in the election of a Republican house
of representatives. The are begin
ming to realize that if the Democrats
were to carry the house this year
there would be no chance whatever
for a revision of the tariff by the Six
tieth congress because a Republican
senate would never concur in what a
Democratic house would do.
Il find" continued Mr.. Watson
'that the expression of the Indiana
Republican platform on the tariff is
being adopted by Republican leaders
all over the country, and it has really
become national slogan. That the
tariff will be revised by the Republi-
can party whenever revision will do
more good than harm, as announced
in the Indiana platform, is now the
attitude of the party nationally
Are you stand-patter? the
whip was asked.
Il really don't tknow, he replied
''If you mean to ask me whether l am
a stand-patter in the sense that the
D;ngley schedules should never be
changed, | will say unhesitatingly
quire whether l think the tariff should
be revised at the next session of
congress | will reply with equal
promptness that | am a stand-patter
in that sense.
Attitude on Revision.
The Republican party can not
name an exact date when it will be in
favor of revising the tariff. To say
that We shall be ready to begin the
work of revision on February %. 1909,
at 4 p. M. would be preposterous.
Business conditions throughout the
country will furnish the index that
will guide the Republican party and
there will be no revision until it is
apparent that il will do more good
than harm to the country. There is
no such thing as a perfect tariff bill.
The one now on the statute books has
inequalities and the next one will have
also. All legislation is compromise
and every bill is a patchwork. This
is particularly true of a tariff bill, be-
cause it touches every township and
community in the United States
Mr.. Watson says that the Democrat
ic situation in Missouri, where he
and Mr.. Cannon spent considerable |
time is very much like the Republi |
can situation in Iowa.
Folk" said he. has divided the |
Democratic party in Missouri and
Cummins has divided the Republican |
party in Iowa. so that the outlook. as
far as congressman is concerned, is |
doubtful in many districts in each |
state We now have ten Republican |
congressman in Missouri out of six 1
teen. and | am inclined to bsSeve that |
we shall elect ten again this year. |
Folk wants to be elected senator To-
succeed 'Gum-Shoe Bill Stone. This /
year Stone permitted Folk TO capture /
the organization, SO that the whole I
burden of conducting the campaign is |
ON Folk. IL the Democrats lose the |
election Folk will be lost in the shut /
fie and wiz not embarrass Stone when /
he seeks reelection two years hence. |
Tbs 4 is a general impression in Mis- |
souri, that 'Gum-shoe Bill will not !
shed any tears il Folks organization |
should happen TO get black eye. In /
fact. it is thought that Gum-shoe Bill /
will help. in his quiet but effective I
way. TO blacken the orbs of his Dem /
ocratic rival. The Republicans in /
Missouri are up and fighting. We /
had large meetings in the west and I
the enthusiasm was great"