The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-11-02
STAND PAT DOCTRINE
ENDORSED BY THE CONFERENCE At
OYSTER BAY.

thc SOh-
gressional Committee as to the
Wisdom of Letting the Tariff Alone.
some quarters about tariff revision.
The suggestion that at recent con-
ference held at Oyster Bay between
President Roosevelt. Speaker Cannon
and the officials of the Republican con-
gressional committee the plan of stand
ing by the policies of the Republican
party was Endorsed brought from some
Of the revisionists and all Of the Demo-
Gratis complaints that this means a cam
paign for the doctrine of stand pat.
Whatever the facts were with regard
to that conference, there Is little doubt
that President Roosevelt has recently
come to share in the opinions entertain
ed by Speaker Cannon that this Is nei-
Their proper nor favorable time for
the consideration of tariff revision.
That being the case, it Is reasonable
to believe that Republican speakers
throughout the congressional campaign
will meet the demand for tariff revision
with the suggestion that until an agree
ment can be reached among the Repub-
licans themselves as to what modifica-
lions should be made In the tariff and
just when would be the favorable time
to make those notifications it is idle
to make an issue of tariff revision upon
which to determine whether the Repub-
leans or Democrats shall control the
house Of representatives.
Considerable comment was provoked
some days ago by the suggestion, at
tributed to Secretary Shaw of the
treasury department, in a speech de.
livered in Iowa, that the proper time
to revise the tariff would be at
special session Of congress immediate
ly following the next presidential cleo
ton. This suggestion was immediate
ly taken up by the revisionists and
Democrats with the assertion that If
the tariff needs revision, why wait IN
are few legislators connected with eli
Their house Of congress who would be-
lieve it possible to bring about a revi-
sion of the tariff before 1909, even If
there were practical unanimity upon
the question that the time has come
now universally exists in all industries
throughout the country by entering
upon Il policy of tariff revision at this
time. Certain it is that no practical
legislator in either house would for
moment think it possible that the tar
if could be revised within the three
months session next winter. From
some quarters the idea is advanced
that President Roosevelt should call
4 special session after the close of the
present congress next March for the
sole purpose of revising the tariff.
1t is extremely doubtful that Presl-
dent Roosevelt would consider favora-
bly, such an idea at this time. There
is little doubt that Mr.. Roosevelt has
experienced something in the nature
Of q change Of heart on the tariff re-
vision question and that the cOunsels
of his party associates against inter-
fering with existing good conditions
by tariff tinkering at this time have
made a decided impression upon him.
1t is probably safe to say that Mr.
Roosevelt would not now urge con.
gress to enter upon tariff revision I'M
til after the subject has been thor
ouChly discussed in the next presi-
dental campaign and the plans for
changes in tariff schedules have been
agreed upon by the leaders of the Re
publican party.
Investigation shows that there are
many Republican leaders who believe
that notifications of some schedules of
the tariff law, if they could be accom-
plished without any interference with
business conditions, would be desr-
able Nobody is ready to offer any as
surance that for congress to enter
upon a policy of tariff revision 'vor'h
not greatly unsattle business.