The Washington herald., 1907-02-08
LODGE FOR TARIFF REVISION
Denies that He Called Guilds Let
ter impairment and Insolent."
Says Maximum and Minimum Plan
Is True Way to Get Reciprocity.
Uses Strong Language.

Senator Lodge, Of Massachusetts, is
very angry over a statement in a Boston
newspaper that ne had denounced as
'imperunent and insolvent' letter from
I Gov. Curtis Guild. Of his State. to Presi-
! dent Roosevelt, suggesting an extra ses-
/ sion of Congress for the purpose OF con-
/ sidering tariff reciprocity legislation. Mr.
Lodge. yesterday, said:
THE statement that 1 said the petition,
or letter, headed by Gov. Guild was I'M
/ pertinent and insOlvent is an absolute
falsehood, a malicious invention Of the
writer who stated il IN his dispatch.
have not only made no statement what
ever in regard to Gov. Guilds petition or
/ letter 70 the President but I have never
| thought il otherwise than entirely proper.
! There is no other way in which any citi-
zen could bring to the attention of the
/ President his desire for an extraordinary
| session Of Congress.
There has been for two or three years
a constant TeiteTatiOu Of the statement
that ] am opposed 10 any revision Of the
tariff anu the fact that I have never
/ held or uttered any such opinion, but
/ have constantly expressed a quite con-
trary view, has had no effect upon those
who make and reiterate the assertion. IN
| 1904 my colleague. Senator Crane, and
! expressed our opinion In favor Of revision
Of the tariff. This was months before
the Massachusetts Republican convention.
with our entire concurrence, declared IN
/ favor OF revision.
Very little can be done to promote
tarin legislation in the Senate because all
such legislation must originate IN the
House a fact frequently overlooked.
/ Nevertheless. the efforts OF the Massa-
Chusetts delegation IN the House at the
| last session TO bring about tariff revision
had the cordial sympathy 0f both Senator
Crane and myself But an overwhelming
majority Of the Republican Representa-
tives was opposed 90 revision at that
time, and at the recent elections that
majority was retained in power. The
majority decides party policy, and under
no circumstances viii 7, directly or iudi-
rectly. go outside my party and join with
the Democratic party I'm bringing about
tariff revision. because 7 know from bit
ter experience that Democratic revision
means ruin 10 the protective system and
widespread disaster 10 business. ] favor
revision, bat only by those who believe in
the policy Of protection.
The maximum and minimum scale. an
other subject Of Gov. Guilds letter have
advocated FOR years, and have introduced
bills TO establish 1t. We have had thirteen
reciprocity treaties. / voted for ten Of
them In committee. and against three
which I believed 70 be injurious TO Ameri-
can interests, as il was my duty 10 do
The treaty with Cuba was the only one
ratified, which shows the difficulty OF OBJ
tanning reciprocity by treaty The true
way IS by the maximum and minimum
scale. Let me say also that with Score
tary Roots policy for increasing our trade
with South America I am in hearty ac-
cord.
let me repeat that the statement at
tributed 70 me, and which / quoted at the
outset. is a barefaced and absolute lie
no other word fits il"