The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-20
CUMM|NS To REPLY
TO TAFT'S SPEECH
Iowa Statesman VIII Answer
Wincna UtteranceS
CRANE CASE STILL ALIVE
Friends of Deposed Minister to China
Are Offended at the Manner In
Which Secretary Knox Han
died the Matter.

Chicago. October 1s.-(Special.) 1.-The
opening gun in the war between "the
insurgents" and President Taft over the
tariff bill may be fired in Chicago by
Senator Albert B. Cummins of Iowa ON
November 10. The Iowa senator, who
took a prominent part in the fight on
the tariff bill at the last session of Con-
gress, will oe the guest of honor OF the
Marquette club on that night and the
principal speaker of the occasion. Local
politicians are of the opinion that Sem
ator Cummins will take advantage of the
opportunity to reply to President Taft's
recent speech at Winona, Mimi, uphold
ing the tariff, and that he will pay es-
pecial attention to Senator Aldrioh and
Congressman Cannon. 1t Is the general
belief that the Iowa statesman on this
occasion will uphold the actions of him.
self and his associates, I,aFollette, Long,
Beveridge, ct al. In the Senate, and Par
sons and Murdoch in the House, when
they fought the passage of the present
bill. National politics have been quiet
in Chicago ever since the adjournment
of Congress-, even President Tafts visit
and speech failing to start the pot boil
ing, but the politicians believe that SEN
ator Cummins will enIiven things when
he picks up the gauge of battle thrown
down by President Taft in his pro-tarif
speeches on the present tour. Senator
Cummins, who is credited with originat-
ing the Iowa idea" of tariff reform,
has been involved In a number of Bit
ter political fights in the last eight or
ten years, and has shown that he isn't
afraid to lock horns with the leaders in
his own party or the opposing parties.
Case Of Charles Crane.
THE city of Chicago against the state
department of the United States" might
be the title of the contest that is loom
ing up over Charles r. Crane, discharged
minister to China. The action Of Pres
ident Taft in upholding Secretary Knox
in the affair has not settled the ques-
ton in the minds of Mr.. Cranes many
Chicago friends and associates. There is
talk in financial and commercial circles
of a concerned effort to defend Mr.. Crane
against the charges OF incompetency and
thoughtlessness implied by Secretary
Knox's course, and to declare to the
world that nothing the Chicagoan has
done could be construed as a reflection
upon his integrity and good citizenship.
1t may be, his friends declare, that dip
lomatio reasons arose after Mr.. Cranes
appointment that made 1t unwise for him
to proceed to China but If so these can
not excuse the manner in which he was
released. They take tho position that
even If Knox did not err In dsmissing
the minister, he did err in the manner
of that dismissal and that 1t was done
for the purpose of humiliating Mr.. Crane
first statement that all of his dealings
had been directly with President Taft,
with another statement issued after the
President upheld his secretary. There is
another rumor current to the effect that
Mr. Cranes retirement Is the result of
commercial rivalry between large cor
porations In the United States seeking
entrance into the Chinese markets. The
Standard OIL company is probably the
gest known American corporation In the
Orient and is fast developing vast trade
there by meeting the peculiar demand Of
the Chinese consumer. both az to oil
and to lamps. The steel trust. while not
sd deeply interested in China at pres
ent. is seeking to extend its markets CO.
equal to that OF Standard OIL. The Crane
company of Chicago. of which the father
of Charles R. Crane is the head. while
not a bidder for Chinese trade. has
through its own Importance In the United
States, commercial alliances the Same ~
any other large concern.
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both victims of white slaveyy and 9TH
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