Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-20
Reciprocity Convention Develops
Wide Differences Of Opinion.
CONFLICT ON TARIFF CONCESSIONS
Report From Committee on Res.
o!utions Anxiously Awaited,
SEES SION THIS MING

| lie duuFeSSeS made yesterday ana this
morning this difference of opinion is APP
parently irreconcilable with any declara-
ton on reciprocity of any force or which
could possibly aid the legislators of the ma
tional government in determining the po-
| sition of American operators. When the
delegates separated today for their lunch
] con the impression seemed to be general
that no agreement of definite nature could
| be reached.
| On the assembly of the convention yes
terday morning nothing could have been
| more expeditions or harmonious than the
! preliminaries of organization. Printed
| copies of the reciprocity agreements nego-
| tiated between the United States and other
| countries, with a provisional program and
| the recent address of Commissioner Kas-
| son to the Illinois Manufacturers Associa-
| ton at Chicago were found in every seat
/ Only one name was offered for each office
| The temporary chairman and his perma-
| nent successor both read addresses. care
| fully prepared in advance and printed. The
| recess at noon was taken at the close of a
! meeting harmonious and placid beyond all
| criticism,
Chairman Search had outlined the pur-
poses Of the convention in accord with the
call for the attendance of delegates. The
very first speech after that statement had
been made, however. brought to light the
material and serious disagreement which
now seems likely to prevent all concerted
action. The speaker was Mr.. Charles Heber
Clark, editor of the Philadelphia Textile
Record. and manufacturer of knitted
goods on large scale. Mr.. Search had
declared for reciprocity on the basis of IAN
exchange of tariff concessions" That was
not the reciprocity contemplated by Mr..
clark and the other textile manufacturers
on the floor. Any modification of the tariff
proposed to the convention must not affect
their product. On the general issue past
experience had shown that reciprocity was
inin go ho,O l.
Dingley bill had been entirely helpful Sure
ly under such a showing no proposition
looking to tariff revision could be seriously
entertained by a convention of manufac-
turers.
Delegates Expressed Approval.
Gauged by the applause with which Mr..
Clark's periods were received the body of
the delegates was heartily in sympathy with
his position. But it has since been made
clear that nearly all that applause came
from Mr.. Clark's associate manufacturers
of knitted goods. Another party, of approx
mately equal strength and made up of ope-
rators in agricultural implements, holds to
the views of Chairman Search with equal
firmness and insistency One of that num-
Der spoke this morning in answer to the
address of Mr.. Clark, and spoke with much
earnestness. Another is to do so this after
noon. As far as those two industries are
concerned the issue is clearly defined-the
one party is more than willing to make
tariff concessions of the nature indicated
in Commissioner Kassons address; the
other is unwilling to assent to any reci-
procity agreement which alters the present
tariff in any degree. A third element, less
strong numerically than either of the two
indicated, stands for both tariff concessions
and protective tariff. The free trader, al
though said TO exist In the persons of half
dozen delegates, has not so far shown his
head.
VariOusly Construed.
President McKinley's widely noted adj
dress at Buffalo is referred to in practically
every paper read to the convention. 1t is
varfousIy construed-even by men repre-
senting the same views on reciprocity.
Chairman Search took 1t to mean that some
of the duties embraced in the present tariff
are no longer needful for the existence Of
the Industries for whose protection they
were imposed" Several delegates have
contended that Mr.. McKinIey's meaning
was that such tariffs as he described
should be retained, even If they are tax
upon ourselves, until We could use them in
reciprocal treaties to influence concessions
by governments with whom we were nego-
tiating for trade privileges" third inter-
probation is presented by the ultra-protec-
tionists for whom Mr.. Clark spoke last
night and who are represented by the tex
tile delegates. These gentlemen contend
that no public man Of Mr.. McKinIey's
avowed political faith and acknowledged
character could ever have considered as a
possibility any deviation from the cause
of a tariff designed primarily for protective
purposes
1t was thought possible this morning that
some expression of opinion in favor of
reciprocity which could obtain the support
of all three wings of the convention might |
be framed by the committee on resolutions
but the declarations Of the knftted-goods |
workers, If they have any force at ALL
mean that the delegates representing that |
industry are opposed to any form Of reci- |
procity except that which concerns alone
commodities not produced in the Unit ed
States.
Delegate Gives Notice.
The conventions statement of principles |
would thus be limited to reciprocity as it |
concerns tea and coffee No feature of the |
Kasson treaties meets with any favor from
that wing of the convention. They were !
so anxious to go on record this morning |
that one Of their number, Mr.. A. B. Valen-
tine Of Burlington, VT, president Of the |
National Association of Knitted Goods
introduced as "a notice for |
the information of the delegates a resolu-
ton declaring unreservedly against the |
Kasson treaty negotiated with France.
This contest will reach its climax on the |
presentation of the resolutions to be Of |
fered by the committee appointed last |
night That body was to have reported |
this morning, but is not now expect ed to |
appear until late this afternoon. The delay
OF it's report is accepted as a sign that even |
In the committee an agreement Is proving
difficult to reach. When the report does
appear everything else will be swept aside
as a matter Of course. Meanwhile the con-
ventton occupies itself not by debate On
the various phases Of reciprocity, but by
without signs of even mild Wearf-
ness. to the reading of apparently inex-
number of papers.
Two parallels and an extemporaneous
plea for broader principles and nobler as
pirations" than those enunciated yesterday
began the proceedings Of today. They were
as an introduction to a paper by
James T. Taylor, a tanner, from Cincin-
natl One of the parallels related the grow
Ing greed Of a son favored beyond all his
brethren, the son eventually imploring his
father not to help him adjust the troubles
Of less fortunate men. but to put another
ock on the door," This, according to MIR.
Taylor's view. epitomized the addresses OF
yesterday in unqualified support Of present
Tariff provisions.
In It's whole tone Mr.. Taylor's address
was a protest against the attitude Of ultra
protectionists. If evils existed-and cita-
tons were made from addresses by Secre-
tary Blaine, President Cleveland and Presi-
dent Mckinley to indicate that an active
need prevailed for changes in present day
ri al Lott |