The Washington herald., 1907-12-29
TARIFF The Big ISSUE
Senator Taylor Sees Democ-
racy's Chance.
BRYAN STRONGER THAN EVER
Roosevelt the Iron Wedge that Has
split His Party Into Factions, He
Says = Republicans Nervous and
Leaders Not in Line with Demand
of Masses for Tariff Revision.

THE Democratic party is lined up more
strongly than ever for revision OF the
tariff. The Republican leaders may stand
pat if they WILL but the masses of thAir
own party are demanding the reform Of
the tariff. The West, through which l
have Travelled extensively, is solid for IT,
The South is as strong for Bryan as it
ever was. Sentiment for him in the East
is growing and solidifying. In the West
they have always believed in him. but
they have been afraid to let go of the Re
publican rope. They have been learning
things out there of late, however.
Not since 1892 has the Democratic
party had the golden opportunity that IS
open to it now. The Republicans are
badly frightened, and they have a right
TO be. They are divided among them
selves, and Mr.. Roosevelt has been the
iron wedge that has split them asunder."
Robert Love Taylor, Senator from Ten
nessee, who has toured the entire country
and observed conditions with the prac-
ticed eye of a man well versed in the art
of reading political weather vanes and
sign posts, last night expressed these
opinions in his apartments at the Ebbitt
House
Il a Conservative Democrat.
Senator Taylor is not given 70 forming
opinions without due regard 70 facts as
they come under his observation, nor TO
expressing himself hastily upon public
questions. His father. and one of his
maternal uncles were statesmen. so that
he may be considered as having inner
tied an ability for political observation
which his own extensive political career
has developed.
I should not be surprised 20 see storms
in the present Congress-" he. said. 1.-The
premonitory rumbHngs We're heard before
the recess. and it was seen that the
minority is alive to its opportunities and
intends to make the most Of them. The
majority. realizing the meaning OF the
distant thunder. whispered TO the tarbu-
lent waves, Peace. be still-until after
the holidays But the voice of the Amer
lean people Is behind the storm clouds,
and the storm is going TO break, soon or
late. Temporizing will not avert II.
Tariff Real Basis of Evil.
why should We jump on the rich man
because he has made the most Of the
door Of opportunity that has been opened
10 him? If you open that door 10 any
man, he IS going to rush IN. You can't
blame him; but you can blame. and
should blame, the policy of government
that enables a few men TO take from the
great mass Of the people the wealth that
properly belongs to them. That policy IS
the high protective tariff, of which the
Dingley law Is the capstone. That law
was simply the elimination of the policy
This is the golden age Of the South
continued the Senator. IF they'll only Jet
us alone for a few years longer. and Net
us have six hundred millions Of Decent
cotton. despite the tariff, we'll be willing
to play cards with them. The South, after
all, is the mainstay of this land and 10
the South. eventually, as I told the Ten
nessee Society in New York the other
night. they've got to come 10 save this
country from itself"
senator n True SOutherner.
1t is not possible 10 convey by means
OF printed words the charm of Senator
TaylOr's personality and conversation.
He is a man of medium height. well built,
and healthy looking. showing no sign that
he has but recently arisen from a sick
trouble brought him. At fifty-seve6 years
he is as active az a man Of forty. and
but for mis- white hair and moustache. APP
pears to be nearer the latter age than the
former. His manner is cordial and court
~, as the true SOutherner's manner should I
be- and he talks slowly, in a low. deep
voice that is remarkable for its power
Of expression by the incubation of it's
nd Fgrz
mark of his own or another's suggests a
story, which the Senator tells with the
skill of the true recOnteur. The stories
are all good, and. strange 20 say, in this
day Of progressive pOst-prandial anec-
dotes. they are all new. apparently
He Tells n GOvd story.
Il realize" he said, with a humorous
twinkle in his eyes-which by the way,
are as eloquent as his voice in accenting
the points he makes in conversing-''tha
] am a new Senator and a member Of the
minority in the Senate In fact"-and a
slow smile curved his lips and puckered
up the corners Of HIS eyes-'I feel like
the new boy in school. or the man VINO
went 10 sleep IN church. The church was
bit too warm, and the man had had
drink or two. When the preacher said.
Let us pray he got down on his knees
with the others, and while they were
praying he went to sleep with his arms
resting on the back of the bench in front
of him and his head bowed apparently
IN deep devotion upon his arms The
preacher got through his prayer, and
then he said: Now. all of you who want
10 90 to heaven. stand up They all
wanted 90 ~ o.
everybody stood up except the man who
was asleep. Now said the parson. II
there is anybody here who wants to go
TO hell let him stand up
"Of course, everybody sat down. and
the noise of the rising and sitting of the
congregation reused the sleeping man lust
in time 10 hear the words stand IN
He stood up and saw the parson standing
also. 'PaTsOn.' he said I don't know
what the question is that's before the
house; but you and I seem to be in q
mighty small minority
But the minority has plenty Of ma
teriai," he added. and splendid leader
Cool, calm. with his grasp on the sit
uation always as IL arises. Senator Cul-
berson, Democratic leader in the Senate
has the qualities of the born leader. The
lightning of the approaching storm will
be al effective weapon in his hands,"
Born on Historic Ground.
Senator Taylor was born July 81, 1850
at Happy Valley, Carter County, Tenn.
at the spot where John Sewer established
the first fort in that territory. on the
banks of the Watauga River. His father
was member of Congress and Commits
sioner Of Indian Affairs under President
Johnson. and his mother was, before her
marriage. Emily Haynes, sister of Ian