The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1906-09-01
REPUBLICANS AT ODDS
The Stand Patters Have Trouble
In Their Own Ranks.
A REVOLT AGAINST THE MACHINE

Secretary Dover of the RepubIlcan
National Committee DisaErees with
other Leaders on the Tariff Issue.
broken Republican Promises, Like
Chickens, Coming Home to Roost.
The disorganization of the Republic
an party is growing apace Every.
where there are revolts against tho
machine leaders who would stifle tho
voice of the rank and file of the. party
on issues and candidates. In spite of
President Roosevelt's adhesion to the
stand pat programme OF the Kepub-
ltean congressional leaders and man
ayers, the demand for tariff revision
will not down, because the people are
clamorous for relief from tariff fostered
trust high prices. The latest protest
against the stand pat issue comes from
Secretary Elmer Dover of the Repub-
liean national committee, who, In an
Interview In the Washington Post,
July %, said; Local conditions should
govern In matter of this kind It Is
useless to close our eyes to the fact
that there Is demand for tariff revi-
sion in many parts OF the country, and
there are many Republican candidates
for congress to whom 1t might prove
disastrous to stand pat this fall In
some districts Republicans are going to
win by declaring In favor of revision
of some of the Dingley schedules; In
others Republicans will be elected ON
an antirevislon platform. Local senti-
ment must be recognized to great
extent and stand patter is likely to
lose by disregarding 1t, and vice versa"
This is an extraordinary statement
from leading official of the Republic
an party just when President Roase-
welt and the congressional campaign
committee have decided to stand pat
on the tariff and shows sehlsm in
Republican councils that is very en-
couraging to Democrats and honest re-
formers, for 1t must not he supposed
that Mr. Dover would fly In the face of
President Roosevelt and the congress
sional campaign managers unless his
opinion Of the necessities Of the cam
paign was strongly supported by some
members of the national committee
and other Republican leaders.
Dover's plan Is not to hamper the
congressional candidates with the
stand pat issue, but leave each one TO
A,Jt H.. Is h. - 1t.
district, so as not to lose Votes. If
tariff revision was direct issue in all
the congressional districts, there is no
doubt that majority of the members
elected to the next congress would
favor tariff reform. There are quite
a number of Republican members in
the present congress who were either
pledged to vote for reciprocity or free
raw materials or a reduction of duties
on such products of trusts rs are sold
cheaper abroad than here
But what did 1t amount to? The Re
publican congress was dominated by
the extreme protectlonists, and the eau.
Gus chose Il stand patter for speaker,
and the voice OF those who had pledged
their constituents TO vote for reform
was stihed No tariff reform measure
was allowed to be considered or dis
cussed.
If the Republicans this fall elect a
majority of the members of the next
congress, the same conditions will pre-
vail, for Speaker Cannon and the
stand pat majority will again control
and again stihe any revision sentiment
in the Republican ranks.
There Is but one way that Repub-
lican member who is pledged to vote
for tariff revision can make his vote
count, and that Is by refusing to enter
the Republican caucus, and If such
caucus selects stand pat candidate
for speaker to vote for the Democratic
candidate. In case of the next con.
gress being quite nearly divided po-
litically such a vote from few Repub-
lican or independent members might
turn the scale
But how many Republican candidates
will pledge themselves to take such an
Independent course, and how many
can be relied upon to bolt their party
even II such pledge was given?
Many Republican voters have been
fooled In some districts in the past
three congressional campaigns, and
their experience of Republican candi-
dates professions for tariff reform and
their lack Of performance has taught
them that such promises are worthless
under the caucus system that compels
the minority to accept the issues laid
down by the majority Therefore the
only relief from trusts and tariff plum
dering is to elect Democrats or con
tinue to pay the taxes to the trusts
that the tariff fosters and the high cost
OF living that the trusts impose by vir-
tue Of the protection that the trusts
enjoy