The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-07-14

bill at least twenty Republican dis.
tricts in the middle west will be lost
to the party at the next election.
Leaders Get Information.
!. Positive assurances are given that
the political situation, as affecting
the middle west Republicans. haa
been brought directly to the attention
of Speaker Cannon and Chairmen AL
drich and Payne. 1t is figured out
precisely this way:
Eighteen Republicans from the west
and northwest voted against the rule
sending the tariff bill to conference,
doing so as protest to the increased
rates Of the senate bill. 1t is said
that at least fifteen more Republi.
cans from that section and chiefly in
the states Of Iowa, Kansas, Minneso-
ia and Wisconsin, have served notice
upon the Republican leaders
charge Of tariff matters that 10.
will not vot 'ar the conference re
port unless 3 +antial concessions
are made upon increased rates of
the senate bill. 4
1t is also declar> shat at least
three more Republicansc. the senate
may join the insurgent>. >ment In
that body in voting againsl final
passage 6f the bill, unless ces-
sions are made, they having .oted
for the bill on its final passage in
the senate in the expectation that the
conference committees will reduce
materially the rates of the senate bill.
The fact that it would require
twenty-four Republicans only, joining
with the Democrats in the house, to
defeat a conference report, shows
how critical the situation Is as it con-
fronts the Republican majority in the
house. Only six more votes woulc
have to be added to the eighteen
which Joined in protest against the
Republican majority program on the
conference to defeat the report of the
conference
1t appears, however, that the senti-
ment is not all one way among the
western men regarding the import
ance of the changes made in the tar
iff schedules by the bill as it stands.
Some Of the ultra-protectionists, even
from the western states, are assert
Ing that the downward revisionists
are unduly magnifying the alleged
hostility of western Republicans. OF
the people generally. to the things
made in the tariff by the senate.
Offset to Statement.
AS an Offset of the almost univers-
al expression by Republicans who
have been home that the sentiment is
for lower duties, and the demand gem
eral among the people for the house
bill as against the senate bill, story
Is being told by the house protection
lists at the expense Of q distinguished
western Democrat.
1t Is related of this Democrat that
he made splendid record in his fight
against the Payne bill in the house,
and was recognized as foremost
among the leaders of the Democrats
In protesting against the kind of re-
vision which the Republican majority
insisted upon making. This western
Democrat, it is said, relates the story
at his own expense. to the effect that
he went home expecting to meet the
applause of the people and universal
conlmendation for his labors On the
contrary, he is said to have found that
the people were paying practically no
attention to Washington and the tar
iff; that many of his constituents
were not aware of the fact that con-
gress is in session, and those who
were cognizant of the fact were ex-
pressing the hope that the body would
pass "any old kind Of a tariff bill"
and adjourn at once!
Regardless of these conflicting opin-
ions with reference to public senti-
ment on the tariff. it is perfectly evil
dent that the downward revisionists
in the house and the eleven downward
revisionists in the senate, demonstrate
ing how few additional votes must be
obtained in order to prevent an agree
ment upon an undesirable tarif bill,
have the best of the situation. They
are confidant of the open sympathy, II
not the secret aid, of President Taft.
They ara determined to make stub
born resistance to any agreement up
on tariff bill that shall not recog-
nize the necessity for the utmost pos
sible reductions in duties and as near
as may be bill built upon the lines
Of the Payne tariff.
Will Furnish an Issue.
With respect to the issues In con.
troversy about which the downward
revisionists are exhibiting the most
concern, it is brought out in the COM
ments by senators and representatives
that the rates fixed by the senate gem
orally increasing the duties on cotton
textiles, especially the higher grades
of cotton cloths, will furnish one OF
the issues over which the greatest
amount of bitterness will be display
ed. The house will be insistent also
upon the senate giving away upon it's
increases in the lumber schedule and
agreeing to the house rate of 81 q
thousand.
Another bitter controversy is sure
to arise over the duty on hides. 1t is
understood that Chairman Payne has
informed his colleagues that. in his
opinion. the senate has less ground
for expecting the house to yield on
hides than upon any other item Of the
bill except petroleum. In addition to
the stronger hand taken by the house
in favor of free hides, the fact is also
noted that even among the western
Republicans there is a decided split
on this issue, practically half of them