Bisbee daily review., 1908-06-21

ANXIETY OVER
TARIFF REFORM
Nothing Worthy of Mention In
That Line Win Ever be Done
Until 1t Is Accomplished by
Democrats.
fspecial 10 the ReYiew.l


WASHINGTON, June 20.-Its very
comical to see the anxiety of some Re
publican politicians for tariff reform.
There is Uncle Shelby Moore Cullen,
of Illinois, who has been Senator from
Illinois for the past "a years, and a
member of the house of representa-
tives for 16 years before that, now
says I'VE must have tariff reform"
Uncle Shelby has kept his ear close to
the ground during all his long public
career and has faithfully voted for the
tariff bills that have fostered and pro-
tected the trusts and has been en-
dorsed in so doing by the Republican
party of Illinois, but now he wants re-
form of some kind. Your Uncle Shell
by is too cute TO say how much re-
form he is laundering after; he will of
course, leave that to the Republican
National convention, but he wants a
tariff bill promised ''after election"
Uncle Shelby probably does not
care whether the principle of pro-
lection" is again endorsed by the Re-
publican party, or whether maximum
and minimum tariff, which would
raise the tariff higher, is the outcome
after election" but he wants it I'M
derstood that before election he is for
reform of the boldest kind without
specifying what schedules shall be
abolished or revised.
| Your Uncle Shelby is no better or
worse than the average Republican
politician, and his bold pronounce,
ment for tariff reform Immediately
after election" is a strong indication
that the great majority of the people
of Illinois have been clamoring for
tariff reform before election, and that
it is the part of wisdom to try and con-
cole them with a promise for the flu
ture.
Can the people of Illinois be kept in
line for the Republican party again
by promises? What will they do to
Uncle Shelby and the other Repubh
can politicians who represent them if
their favorite son, Uncle Joe Cannon,
is reelected speaker again, and per-
sists in appointing a stand pat ways
and means committee like the present
one that laughs and gibes at tariff re-
form of the slightest kind? Uncle
Joe is backed by all the power and
money of the trusts, and nothing but
a political revolution will unhorse
him.
In fact, nothing but Democratic
majority in congress, continued for, at
least, four years, will reform the tar
III. II the Democrats control the house
of representatives of the next con-
gress and pass a tariff reform bill
your Uncle Shelby will probably vote
in the senate against It. But even he,
if forced by public opinion, should vote
for a tariff reform bill, there are more
than enough friends of the trusts and
combines in the senate TO defeat it.
1t is safe to say that practically
every Republican in the senate and
house would vote against a Democrat-
ic tariff reform measure, just as they
have refused to consider the bills for
reforming the abuses of the tariff that
were before the committee at the ses-
sion just ended. There was the bill
TO reduce the tariff rates that exceed
100 per cent, and the bill to abolish
the duty on wood pulp and print paper
were never reported from the commit
tee that Speaker Cannon appointed
and controlled.
1t is no good to try and fool the peo-
pie with promises all the tine. If
they want tariff reform they must not
only elect a Democratic house of rep
resentatives, but Democratic major
ity in the senate also The people of