The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-31
TUESDAY, MARCH 81, 1905.
THE CANNON nooM.


A loud report of the Cannon boom
comes from Springfield, ILL.,. where
tho Republican State convention has
heen in session. There were several
heated episodes of the meeting. which
served to prevent its appearing wholly
perfunctory. At one stage OF the pro-
ceedings there was an impromptu adj
iournment, caused by the burning OF
q, large hotel where many OF the dele
gates were stopping. The tariff ques-
tion was the subject of warm discus
SIGN. The respective merits OF tweedlc-
dunn and tweedledee were argued at
length. Some favored the use in the
platform OF the expression tariff adj
justment," while others thought that
tariff revision" was the most taking
phrase. 1t was explained that adjust
ment might be construed as the raising
of some schedules, as we'll as the low
ering of others, while revision was
commonly taken to mean general
reduction. Finally, however, an
emissary arrived straight from the old
big gun, and the word revision went
into the platform like a shot
This revision scheme, as outlined in
the platform, is to smack strongly of
perfection 1t is to partake somewhat
of the nature of an adjustment, and
is TO be accomplished with THE great
est possible gain and the least posi-
BILE loss" 1t is expected to remove
inequalities prevent injustice and be
based upon scientific investigation.
This investigation will be conducted
by the appropriate committees of
Congress, assisted by outside experts.
There are to be minimum and maxi
mum rates. the former for home con-
sumption, SO to speak, giving full pro-
lection, and the latter to be invoked
to retaliate upon foreign countries
which discriminate against American
produce.
Apparently this Utop!an scheme was
howitzer himself, If So this old prince
OF standpatters has read the signs of
the times we'll enough to know that
something must be said in favor of
tariff revision, and has compromised
by inspiring an oracular utterance,
which he hopes may be incorporated
into the national Republican platform,
and be vaguely broad enough for him
to stand upon asa presidential candi-
date.
We cannot believe however, that
the voters of this country can be
persuaded to follow such a dim and
fatuous will-o'-t he-wisp 1t gives no
assurance that the general average of
rates will be reduced in the slightest.
lection idea or the revenue feature will
predominant. We are given no hint
as to the time which this symmetrically
beautiful scheme will be ready for the
hear any prophecy as TO the lapse CT
years before the people may expect
to reap the benefit of this ideal dis
pensation.
Nevertheless. upon the fabric of this
: finespun dream tissue has been erected
new boom for the old smoothbore
He was acclaimed in the Springfield
convention as the apostle of reform
legislation. He was credited with
public and private virtues too exalted
4 for nero language to describe His
threescore years and ten were avowed
presidency He was likened to Glad
stone and Bismarck, who ruled millions
when eighty years of age
We recognize that all of this is a
severe strain upon our gullibility. We
can see no similarity between the dig
nifted, pious and poetical Gladstone and
the risky and profane slang singer
from the Middle West We think, too
that the Iron Chancellor. who welded
weak confederacy into nation, wa.
made of sterner stuff than the gen.
tleman whose most notable achieve
ments have been the suppression, as
far as possible. of the House Of Rep.
resentatives in the interest Of the raea,
packers and of the protected interests
and the strangulation OF measures car.
I. rying appropriations to the South.
However, he Is in the battle for III,
presidency, and his banner is floating
70 the breeze. t promises perfec
tariff about the time Of the millennium
we make bold to predict that at tn
Chicago convention tho Cannon boon
VIII prove very small explosion.
loan EXHIBITS AND THE TARIFF
The American Free Art League caN
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