Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1907-01-17


Attack ON Protection Yelled Behind
the Pretcnse That the Tariff Must
He Reduced So as to Compel the
Trusts to Lower Prices.
1t is perfectly evident that the pur-
pose Of the Democrats will be to CON
duct the coming congressional cam
paign as nearly On the lines of the
tarif as possible without rendering
direct issue on that question. The evi-
dence supporting this proposition is
found in the preliminary speeches put
forth for circulation by Democratic
leaders in the house, in which they
center their attack upon the protective
policy by indirection and dwell more
specifically upon the reports regarding
sales of American goods in foreign
markets at prices lswer than such
goods bring in the domestic markets.
The fact that the aggregate sales
abroad at these low prices amount to
but an insignificant fraction, estimated
to be possibly 30 cents on $100 worth
sold abroad and bearing but relative
ly inconseCNential ratio to the i'm
mensc production of commodities by
the prosperous mills and factories of
the country, is utterly ignored by the
enemies of the protective system in
this onslaught upon the protective
tariff.
Attention has also been called to the
fact that Mr.. Bryan in his Htterances
recently while in Germany when he
was Informed Of the uprising of his
party associates in favor of making
him the nominee for the presidency
again this year demonstrated that he
approaches the issue of the tariff some
what gngerly. Doubtless he recalls
his free trade record in the house Of
representatives in 1894 and he realizes
that the country will be able to find no
instance of his having recanted the
views he then entertained in avowed
hostility to protection. Mr.. Bryan,
while admitting now that he is in
favor Of reduction of duties on I'M
ports into the American markets,
chooses to divert attention from this
declaration by intimating that in his
opinion the next presidential contest
will he fought upon the issue of tue
trusts.
While this statement by MIR. Bryan
will afford evidence that he is still the
adroit politician which his friends have
always recognized him to be, it is not II
statement calculated to mislead any
body who is familiar with Mr.. Bryan's
record on the tariff question. 1t is well
understood by everybody who gives
and to the political prospects of the
next two years that substantially the
only issue that will be raised between
the Republican and Democratic parties
in the campaign in 1908 will be protec-
ton versus free trade. Mr.. Bryan's
party will cloak its attack upon pro-
lection by proposition to destroy the
trusts by admitting foreign competing
goods to the markets of the United
States upon terms that certainly will
be destructive to the manufacturing
and producing industries Of this coun.
try and denoralizing to the wage earn-
ers through out the land, just as was
the system which Mr. Bryan's party,
with his aid and encouragement, ac.
compllshed with the Democratic tariff
act Of 1894.
Revising the Digest.
Several changes in the digest of our
Order We're reported to the national
grange by the committee appointed
year ago for this purpose The sug-
gested changes are to be printed in
connection with the section or para
graphs Of which they form a part and
then sent to each state master for his
consideration. At the next meeting Of
the national grange the committee will
present Its final report.
CUBAN RECIPROCITY