The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-02-21
POfiC0| Comment.


Reactionaries Barred.
Republican politicians who are not
friendly to the President are III a stew
ever the interview of Congressman Me
LOngworth, the Presidents son-in-law.
Ordinarily no great importance would
be attached to the Cincinnatian's utter
ance, but in this matter it is felt that
Re has expressed the Presidents views
and In a very forceful manner. Hence
the disquietude
Not even the President has made ii
more emphatic that he would not be
candidate for reelection, and in respect
% this feature of the interview the dis
Eruntled ones eyince pleasure. Had the
interview stopped there, the Presidents
adyersaries would have felt like turn
ing fip-fops In the exuberance of their
emotions But the interviewer wanted
more light on the subject. He knew
fAat the people had faith in the Presi-
dent and in the Presidents judgment
Hence the Presidents choice for his
successor would receive at least care
fui consideration He put the question
60 Mic and the answer might be called
enc of elimination. "some one who IS
not a reactionary," was the substance
Of the reply, and it has struck the poll
ticians with the force of an electric
shock. Now they are measuring their
respective champions to determine, if
possible. whether they will stand the
test OF course Congressman Long
worth defined his use OF the word ere
dictionary" as one not in accord with
The advanced policies of the present
administration. That Is, the President
believes the people have shown ap-
prevail of his work and want it con-
finued to completion, and that the next
Republican candidate should be man
vh0 Is in harmony with this purpose.
President Roosevelt will not attempt
10 dictate the nomination 1t is not
eTen known that he has a favorite,
hut, If he had. he Is not likely to make
u known unless it should indeed be
pressed upon him by force of circum-
stances as a patriotic duty. i'm which
case every one who knows him realizes
that be would not shirk the response
bfIity even at the risk of wholesale
criticism However. his opinion that
the next Republican nominee should
not be 'reactionary" will not be lost
on the people, and that is why the poll
ticians are taking stock of their candi-
Rstes.@Toledo Blade
Free Seeds and Coneressmen.
For years it has been the custom of
members Of Congress to use the distri-
bution of free seeds to aid them in
their campaigns for reelection. The
dear people paid for these seeds which
ambitious Congressman scattered over
tEstr districts. OF course, it was and
IS an ansosate wsxte Of money, and
none know it better than the up-to-
date farmers.
A vigorous effort is being made to
5op Off this petty graft A year ago
the committee on agriculture in the
House reported against the appropria-
ION, but Congress turned down the re-
port Within the past year system
at1c fight has been made against the
appropriation this winter, the farmers
themselves taking the initiative.
Through the Grange and other organi-
cations they have given Congress to
understand they do not want these
seeds. and they protest against the i'm
putation that their support Is TO be
gained for this or that candidate by
package of turnip or cabbage seeds
In his annual report this winter Sec
setary Wilson. of the Department of
agriculture, acting on his own judg-
Urged that the free distribution of seeds
- discontinued. Again the committee
- agriculture reported against the
enston, and yet this week Congress
burned down all these recommends
leions, and. by vote of 1856 to "a, APP
proprIated nearly a quarter of a mil
lion Of the money of the taxpayers that
kaembers may have free seeds with
which to conduct their campaigns next
year.
II seeds are to be distributed the
work should be done, not by Congress-
nen. but by the Agricultural Depart
.ment- But what is the use in giving
away seeds when farmers emphatically
declare they do not want them?
VIII Encounter Opposition.
A proposition to discriminate In ia
vor Of Germany In the matter of GUS
tom house duties Is certain to arouse
. formidable and in all probability a
Successful opposition both in and out
Of Congress. No one wants to pro-
voke a tariff war, and such war will
not be provoked by any deliberate act
u the United States, but when this
eountry Is asked to admit German
gods on better terms than goods from
sther nationalities it may be excused
1Dr answering with a negative.
The argument Is made that Germany
- very good customer. that 1T buys
American products to the extent of
ever 234 millions Of dollars In year
and sells n,erchandfse here to the value
Of about 1876 millions These are large
figures, but with Great Britain we do
. bigger business still, and are we TO
discriminate against our best customer
because that customer has refrained
fFom discriminating against us? Any
attempt to adjust the Dingley sched-
ules to the German satisfaction will
encounter an insuperable obstacle in
ne prevailing view Of what is fair and
right and Just and reasonable and ex-
pedient-Philadeiphf Inquirer.
D0es Not Affect Calico.
Whether through Ignorance or inten-
f7oa we will not undertake to say, the
KansaR City Star. protection hater,
makes q gross mistsatement in assert