The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1907-03-01
RIPPERS ARE BUSY
PERSISTENT EFFORTS TO SECURE
TARIFF REVISION.
Massachusetts, Congressman Trying TO
Secure Cooperation Of Western
Republicans to Force Changes
at Extra Session.

The fact that the EFFORTS OF the To
visionists" in congress are from time
to time renewed in an active way
toward the securing, IL possible, of an
expression of the Republican majority
In caucus favorable to a special session
Of congress in the coming spring to re-
wise the tariff, lends to the whole sub
ject an importance which cannot be
overestimated by he friends OF the
protective system. Massachusetts
members have reached out to the Re
publican representatives of the West
and Northwest with a request for q
uniting of forces to secure such eau
Gus.
The requisite number Of signers for
the party caucus, so, has not been Sc
cured. Careful and conservative esti-
mates by men in position to know dis
credit the idea that the movers In the
enterprise can possibly be successful.
But It is never a wise plan to belittle
efforts of those who are constantly at
work, even in a mistaken cause, espe-
cially when they have such a short dis
lance to go to obtain that for which
they are working.
The fact must not be lost sight of
that the element in the Republican ma
jority in the house of representatives
that is striving to secure consent OF
the administration and of the Republi-
an majority to a revision of the tariff
| schedules are constantly busy, while
| there is a spirit of Indifference among
| the loyal friends Of the protective sys-
| tem-an Indifference born of the idea
hat the opposition cannot possibly
win in the game they are playing.
Every point gained in a contest Of this
kind, as can easily be shown, counts
In a substantial way in the direction OF
undermining the established policy Of
the Republican party and of the coun-
try. The meaning of this, briefly
stated, is this:
Every name added to the petition
for a caucus of the Republican major
ity in the house on the tariff question
tends to encourage additional names.
Fifty Is a small number to OBJ
tain among $50 members, many of
whom count too lightly the dangers
which beset tampering with SO great
and important a problem.
The very calling Of a caucus, no
matter if it's final decision should be
edverse to the plan of the re~visionists.
might and possibly would be accepted
by President Roosevelt as encourage
ment of the idea of having a special
session to revise the tariff law. He
has at no time evinced such sturdy
-----.I-- - --.,s-- -.
the idea that he would hesitate long
to move in that direction If he found
material encouragement in congress
or in the country.
Discussion of the subject of tariff
revision, encouraged as it is by the
representatives of two or three Repub-
lican states, might be seized upon by
those who are desirious of the slight
est possible C for making a raid
upon the revenue laws, in the hope not
only of securing revision. but Of es-
tablishing some scheme of "recipro-
city" or dual tariffs (which shall trade
of protection for foreign trade to ia
vored industries in this country.
Frankness compels the statement
that the efforts of these Republicans
in the house to secure a party caucus
have not met with material encourage
ment up to this time. Most of the rep.
re%sentatives, yer from states where
there is a more or less numerous ele
ment of the party favorable to imme
date revision and downward are in
clined to defer action at this time
They argue that a majority of the
party In the house is opposed to a spe
cial session, and would vote down Z
suggestion for such session il made II
a caucus. But, with the number nee
essary to be obtained as signers to {
!, call for a party caucus so small, thu
possibility of success is ever an en-
enlargement to renewed efforts on the
> part of the aggressive and t~ireless re
visionists. 1t should also be an en-
couragement to counter activity on tn,
part of the real friends of protection
those who believe that conditions Ii
: the country are such as to warran
. their continuance. Only by constan
4 vigilance can the protectionists in con
gress prevent the carrying out OF tn
policy that has support among a hand
full only of the Republicans. but tn
active encouragement of every fire
trader in and out of congress in tn
entire country.
The issue is too important to be mel
lected for a moment by the friends q
protection in every state of the Uniol
Labor and Tariff.
A Samuel Gompers. president Of tn