The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-03-16
LEADERS WORRY
Tariff Revision Causes the
Republican Zig Men a
Great Deal Of Anxiety
SENTIMENT STEADILY GROWS


THAT THIS ISSUE MAY ocCAs-
ION TROUBLE IN THE FALL.
CAMPAIGN.
WASHINGTON, March 16 1906.
There is no question that the Republican
leaders are badly worried oyer the
growth of the tariff revision sentiment
through the country. This isn't true of
all of them. Speaker Cannon, Serene
Payne and half dozea members Of Con-
gress who fixed up the program to pre-
vent any debate on tariff questions from
the Republican side during the present
session, are just as ardent standpatters
as ever. Even among the standpatters,
the men who don't believe in any jug
Cling with the Dingley bill, though there
is a sentiment that ali the revision talk
isn't wind. and that it may cause some
mischief in this falls campaign unless
it is in some way counteracted.
"Oh, for a foreign war or something
else to get peoples minds off this tariff
talk!g walled one of these Congressrnelr
the other day. Cant somebody find
new issue?'
Just now the attitude Of the American
Reciprocal Tariff League, whose execu-
tive committee meets in Chicago this
week, is causing no little disturbance Of
mind among the less myopic of the stand
patters. There are nor few Congress-
men. even among those who deplore the
agitation of tariff changes, who remember
the influence and effect of the tariff re
form leagues formed in The first Cleve-
land campaign, and who begin to realize
that the panic and hard times Of 1898,
succeeding the passage Of the Wilson
bill, is getting to be too much like an
cient history to, serve much longer in
arousing enthusiasm for a standpat cam
paign.
The fact is that the sentiment among
Republican members of Congress in fa-
vor Of some abusive tariff legislation
to meet present conditions and the de-
nland for better reciprocity laws, is more
widespread than generally supposed.
The only reason that the reyis.onists
haven't kicked over the traces in the
House before this is their knowledge
that any attempt to secure legislation at
this session would be abortive, and their
fear that futile effort now would sim
ply give the Democrats material for
campaign purposes which might work
disastrously upon the Republican party
next fall.
Upon the decision of the national com
mittee of the Reciprocal Tariff League
this week will depend the nature Of the
fight that organization makes next fall;
whether it shall actively support eandi-
dates for Congress who are pledged to
reciprocity and tariff revision, without
regard to party affiliation, or shall meme
" prosecute vigorous revision propa-
ganda without specifically opposing or
supporting nominees of either party.
There is already strong talk among the
rev:sionists about making determined
fights to defeat Speaker Cannon and
Chairman Payne, of the Ways and
Means Committee, who are looked upon
as the great Congressional high priests
of standpa tism, in their own districts.
Uncle ice" was beaten once, and. Of
course, it is possible that he may be
again. Reports from the Middle West
are that the revision idea is making
rapid gains among the farmers. 1t is
even rumored that the Speaker is begin
ming already to feel that effects of this
propaganda of the league among the ag-
riculturalists and lisestock producers in
and about Danbury. where he lives, and
that it has been brought home to him
that unless he shows himself not to be
the uncompromising standpatter he has
been up to the present, he may have to
stay home through the summer and fall
to look after his own fences, instead of
going out to help members in close dis
tricts. as has been his practice for years.
One Of the difficult propositions that
the Republican Congressmea are facing
just now is the question Of how they are
going into a. compaign this fall divided
on the revision issue. without getting
into hole. Babcock. who refuses to
Serve again as chairman Of tie Congress
ional campaign committee, isSa revision
ist. So is Tawney, who will probably
be asked to fill the place It is not ike
". though, that Tawney will fake the
job of managing the campaign unless it
is understood that the party is pledged