Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-07-20

favors, as we'll RS against the appeals
which were heard in the senate from
almost every state for some line OF
special duties.
At the first blush the insurgents
yelled with delight and acclaimed the
president as converted to their cause.
Senator Bristow Of Kansas declared
the stateemnt vindicated the lnsur-
gent Republicans and the house. But
a second reading began to cloud the
Joy and by the time they have digest
ed it thoroughly, the insurgents will
find far less iubilation in it than they
thought.
proteetonIsts Not Directing.
On the other hand the Aldrtch- Can
non lieutenants did not seem to wor-
ry about it. They declared that there
was not line in the statement to
which any protectionist could take ex-
ception.
There is some danger, however, that
by bolstering up the ''Chautauquans"
that statement may result in Iengthen-
ing the session, no matter what the
outcome on the specific schedules.
If the conferees took the bill to the
White house and let the president
write the schedules in toto, the insur-
gents would not be satisfied and they
would yell Just little longer about
1t. Speaker Cannon added ten days
yesterday to his estimate of the fight.
putting the Anal date at August 10,
and Vice President Sherman concur
red Senator Aldrich still insists that
Aug. / will see Washington deserted.
,.ar
resentatives at the White house all
demanded that the president cease
what they termed his fight for free
raw material. They left nightly crest
fallen, and the statement did not
cheer them up.
Delegation Makes Long Plea.
The delegation of twenty-three Re-
publican congressman spent an hour
and half with the president telling
him that their very political lives de-
pended upon the protection of raw ma
terials. 1t has become pretty generally
known about the capitol that the
president has expressed himself quite
freely as favoring the free entry of
hides, Oil and coal and material re-
auctions on lumber, etc. Many of the
congressman VINO composed the dele
cation represent southern districts.
They told the president almost fearful
ly that they had been elected on the
materials, in which their people were
interested, and that if the party failed
to dc, this their districts would flop
back again into the democratic col
sumn.
Mr.. Taft listened patiently to all
that was said. He chaffed the con-
gressmen good naturally at times.
Representative Hayes of California
made a speech in favor Of protecting
iron ore. for instance, but the presi-
dent said he suspected Mr.. Hayes of
being interested in lemons. The range
OF the discussion covered every known
variety of raw material and when it
was all done and through with the
president stated his position.
Called Question of Facts.
He said that he favored protection
where protection was necessary and
that where protection no longer was
needed he was in favor of greatly re-
ducing the duty or removing it alto
sether.
1T is merely question of facts
gentlemen the President said to the
Congressman. land in the light of facts
we all want to try to do the right
thing
The spokesman of the valiant TWEEN
ty-three were Representatives Young
| of Michigan. who dweit upon the nee
essity of placing a high duty upon iron
ore: Mondell of Wyoming. who is par
ticularly interestd in coal: Gaines Of
Meet VIRGINIA q nj
iron; Langley of Kentucky, for Goa
and lumber: Cowles OF North Caro-.
| lima, for lumber: Austin of Tennessee
| for coal, iron and lumber, and Hayes
of California.
Following is the official statemen,
made at the White House late today
Mr.. Young of Michigan opposed free
ore; Mr. Mondell opposed free coal OF
reciprocity with Canada and fret
hides; each on the ground that tht
! policy would injure the interests il
! cipated in by other Representatives
who urged that the doctrine of FREE
raw materials was not Republican
doctrine.
Committed to Revision.
THE president replied that he wa
not committed TO the free raw mater
ial, but that he was committed to tn
principle of a downward revision o
the tariff. which he had promised tina
he was obliged to look at the matter
not from the standpoint of any par
ticular district. but from the stand
point of responsibility for the entir
Republican party.
He said the question in each cas-
was question of fact to be determ
ined by evidence as to whether tn
present duty was needed for protectio
or. whether the rate was excessive. s
that a downward revision, or putin
the article on the free list would nc
J injure the industry.
Increases May be Needed.
He respected the platform of til
Republican party and said that he ha
always understood that it meant
downward revision in many instance
, though perhaps in some few instance
, an increase might be needed; that /
, reached this construction OF the pla,
form on what he understood to be til
principlesi of protection and its lust
fication namely, that after an indus
try was protected by duty equal /
: the difference between the cost of pre-
. duction abroad and the cost of produt
ton in this country, including a ia
j; profit to the manufacturer, the energ
! and enterprise of American bushes