The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-04-20

not be as large as the present majority,
nor do any of the party workers want it
to be as large. There is something in
the old saying about an embarrassment
of riches, and the republicans of the
house certainly have such an embarrass
ment at the present time. Their ma
jority is unwieldly.
If the wishes of the republican leaders
could be complied with, the republican
margin in the next house, instead of be-
ing ll2, as at present, will not exceed
about twenty or twenty-five. Such a
margin would be plenty large for all
practical purposes, and yet small enough
to discourage insurgent uprsings.
1t is growing belief here that the
campaign as whole, and the result that
will follow it, will make it plain to the
republicans that the demand for tariff
revision is genuine and widespread. They
count on retaining control of the house.
and it may easily happen that during the
course of the campaign some definite
pledge as to revision at an early date
will have to be made in order to assure
that retention of control Such pledge
ter. by the speaker of the house, and
once made, it would certainly result il
republican victory. The pressure during
the campaign may easily be strong
enough to compel some such pledge a.
last resort. This possibility has al
ready been considered by the speaker ant
the other party leaders.
Should there be such revision as is here
referred to, it would begin at the short
session of next winter, and be continue
in an extra session, to be called for som
day shortly after March 4, 1907, wheI
the present congress will expire by linn
itation. This is the way the Dingle,
tariff was enacted. President McKinle,
called an extra session of congress imme
diately after the short session endin,
March 4, 1897, and almost the entire
summer was given over to- tariff con
struction.
Proceeding in this way, the tariff coul'
be revised and normal condition
business brought about before the com
ing of the presidential campaign of 1905
If there is to be any revision in Tho
near future, it will thus be seen, it mus
be begun next winter or spring, or no
at all. Failure to begin at that time
will necessarily carry the question owe
until after the next presidential cam
paign, when it may possibly be too late
so far as the republicans are concerned
The party managers are to watch the
temper of the country as shown in tn,
coming congressional campaign. and af
terward they will act. If the people show
that they mean business, there will b
revision next winter; but if they neglec
their opportunity, there will be anothe
era of stagnation in congress, which will
say that the country as whole does no
demand action.
Something has been said lately to thu
effect that the republican manager
would be willing to sacrifice the mex
house in order thereby to avoid revision
knowing that the senate would remain
republican for some years to come. Their
is not much in such statement, s.,
far as the majority of party manager
are concerned. Nobody who has an out
look as wide as the country is talkin.
any such stuff as that. The loss of the
house next fall would cripple the re
publican party for the presidential cam
paign. This has been the history of sucl
losses.