New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-05
What Shall Be Done Next? the
Question That Leaders Of
All Factions Are Try
ing to Answer.
MANY MEN OF MANY MINDS
All Agreed That Democratic
Tariff Tinkering Is Making
Their Own Defeat Certain,
but All Differ on Party
Reorganization.
From The Tribune Bureau ]

Granted with the question. What shall
10 done next" find themselves facing
q set of conditions in their own politi-
cal household the final outcome Of
which even the most astute cannot
predict with confidence.
representatives of all factions-rtac-
,ionaries. conservatives. independents,
nrogressives. by whatever classification
they are to be divided-meet on com
mon ground in the conviction that the
democratic party is making opportu-
nity for its opponent and paving the
uay TO its own defeat by passing the
Underwood Wilson tariff bill. Repub-
leans almost without exception ind
solace in the belief that the reaction
against tariff revision, following as IN
evitsbly as the waves in the wake of a
moving ship. will come this year as il
has come in the past.
Protests are pouring into the capt. Al
in ever increasing volume. The predic-
ton is made that in some important
industries factories in the United
states will he closed down and the ca
pacity Of American plants abroad in
creased to supply the American mar
ket: that the demand for employment
in certain industries will be restricted;
that the farmer as well as the laborer
and manufacturer will find himself
worse off than before. and that there
will be no saving results in the reduc-
ton of the cost of living when it is all
over and done. These predictions are
not unusual on the eve Of tariff re-
vision. How accurate they may be is
a disputed question. But whether
they are accurate or not the Republi-
cans in Congress are convinced that
the trend is away from the Demo-
cratic party. and that. left entirely TO
its own devices, it will make its own
defeat certain four years hence.
Republican leaders assert there is
ample evidence that the stray Repub-
lican sheep are returning TO the fold
in growing numbers. There are signs
that Republicans are preparin- TO
buckle on their armor and enter the
lists, II is maintained by some of the
leaders that no difficulty would be en-
countered now in obtaining the sinews
Of war to prepare for the coming fight.
Where Unaninity Ends.
Here the unanimity in the Republi-
can ranks ends. There is still a
marked difference Of opinion as TO the
plan Of action TO be adopted and as TO
the ady.sability Of adopting any at all
al present The situation in the party
as reflected in Congressional ranks
presents the following phases:
The reactionaries take the view that
the problem will work itself out in
time and that the opportunity created
by Democratic failure will operate as
lodestone TO draw the Republicans
together.
The more radical Progressives main,
tain an uncompromising attitude and
insist on following their own course
Of action apart from their party asso-
GATES.
Those whose views are not in ac-
cordance with either Of these two ex-
IRENE factions, the more or less con-
sentative Progressives and the more
OF less Progressive conservatives or re-
setonaries, believe the reorganization
should be accomplished in one way or
another and the linea drawn taut for
me coming battle.
Those who adhere to the last view
Vu'number those who are reluctant to
'sSe any action whatever, and their
"'ni'ancy is unquestionable, but even
among them are represented various
SHADES OF opinion. Senator Cummins.
'Vf example leads the fight for a ma
"Ondi convention TO eliminate the de-
''0" mat past experience has brought
night. Senator Townsend is the
N''ei advocate Of the plan to open
e hght by reOrganizing the Con-
s'esS Committee through which the
'Ho'med Republican policy may be
'Oeiaimed. representative Gardner,
massachusetts,, whose insurgent
s"aracteristics were displayed in the
asn' on Speaker Cannon, is champion
"e 'Iis plan in public.
Want tction Deferred.
mere are also Republicans who.
""He believing that some plan of re-
e~nization should be carried out.
'"ihk greater success could be at
eu oy deferring action until the
w oil the Democratic tariff revision
e" Dy the country. The suggestion
also been made that the question
'u De taken up by the executive
,s'nmittee Of the Republican National
Committee
me opinion prevails among certain
we reactionary Republicans both IN
mouse and the Senate that the
49, which has been swinging
,,1ey IN the direction of tariff reduc-
-. trust busting and such institu-
-, as the Initiative. referendum and
d." VIII swing as far in the opposite
49, ,uon before the end of the Wilson
,'~uatlon. When the demand for
.O"Servatiye, constitutional repre-
,''e government on a protective
49, ~" basis has been created. they hold,
s,o. ura-radical element, bent on "A
H.. purpose OF destruction rather
ana construction. will be eliminated,