Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1906 — REPUBLICANS AT ODDS [ARTICLE]

REPUBLICANS AT ODDS

The Stand Patters Have Trouble In Their Own Ranks. A BEVOLT AGAINST THB MACHINE Secretary Dover of the Republicau National Committee Disa*rees With Other Leaders on the Tariff Issue. Brohen Republican Promises, Like Chickens, Comin* Home to Roost. The disorganization of the Republican party is growing apace. Everywhere there are Revolts against the machine leaders who would stifle the voice of the rank and file of the party on Issues and candidates. In spite of President Roosevelt’s adhesion to the stand pat programme of the Republican congressional leaders and managers, the demand for tariff revision will not down, because the people are clamorous for relief from tariff fostered trust high prices. The latest protest against the stand pat issue comes from Secretary Elmer Dover of the Republican national committee, who, in an Interview in the Washington Post, July 28. said: "Local conditions should govern in a matter of this kind. It is useless to close our eyes to the fact that there is a demand for tariff revision in many parts of the country, and there are many Republican candidates for congress to whom it might prove disastrous to stand pat this fall. In some districts Republicans are going to win by declaring in favor of revision , of some of the Dingley schedules; in others Republicans will be elected on an antirevision platform. Local sentiment must be recognized to a great extent, and a stand patter is likely to Jose by disregarding it, and vice versa.” This is an extraordinary statement from a leading official of the Republican party Just when President Roosevelt and the congressional campaign committee have decided to stand pat on the tariff and shows a schism in Republican councils that is very encouraging to Democrats and honest reformers, for it must not be supposed that Mr. Dover would fly in the face of President Roosevelt and the congressional campaign managers unless his opinion of the necessities of the campaign was strongly supported by some members of the national committee and other Republican leaders. Dover’s plan is not to hamper the congressional candidates with the stand pat Issue, but leave each one to follow the bent of the voters of his district, so as not to lose votes. If tariff revision was a direct issue In all the congressional districts, there is no doubt that a majority of the members elected to the next congress would favor tariff reform. There are quite a number of Republican members in the present congress who were either pledged to vote for reciprocity or free raw materials or a reduction of duties on such products of trusts as are sold cheaper abroad than here. But what did It amount to? The Republican congress was dominated by the extreme protectionists, and the caucus chose a stand pattsr for speaker, and the voice of those who had pledged their constituents to vote for reform was stifled. No tariff reform measure was allowed to be considered or dis- ' cussed. If the Republicans this fall elect a majority of the members of the next congress, the same conditions will prevail, for Speaker Cannon and the stand pat majority will again control and again stifle any revision Sentiment in the Republican ranks, ...

'There is but one way'that a Republican member who is pledged to vote for tariff revision can make bls vote count, and that Is by refusing to enter the Republican caucus, and if such caucus selects a stand pat candidate for speaker to vote for the Democratic candidate. In case of the next congress being quite nearly divided politically such a vote from a few Republican or independent members might turn the scale. But how many Republican candidates will pledge themselves to take such an Independent course, and how many can be relied upon to bolt their party even if such a pledge was given? Many Republican voters have been tooled in some districts in the past three congressional campaigns, and their experience of Republican candidates* professions for tariff reform and their lack of performance has taugut them that such promises are worthless under the caucus system that compels the minority to accept the issues laid down by the majority. Therefore the only relief from trusts and tariff plundering is to elect Democrats or continue to pay the taxes to the trusts that the tariff fosters and the high cost of living that the trusts Impose by virtue of the protection that the trusts enjoy.