The Washington herald., 1909-05-16
Minnesota Governor Declares
Pledges We're Broken.
PREDICTS REPUBLICAN, LOSS
Asserts the National Administration
Cannot Escape the Responsibility
for Action of COngress-Says PeO-
PIE OF Middle West Are Aware that
Promises Made During Campaign
Have Not BeeE FULFILLED.

New York, Nay 15.-The New York
World VIII print tomorrow 4 signed
statement by Gov. Johnson, OF Minnesota.
in which he declares that the Repub-
Hcan leaders n the House and Senate are
not keeping faith with the people IN re-
vising the tariff, and declares that II the
party does not keep faith the Middle West
/ Is lost 10 the Republican party four years
hence
In part, Gov. Johnson SAYS:
The national administration cannot es-
cape the responsibility for the action OF
Congress on the tariff. Early in the
proceedings President Taft took hand
He helped TO organize the lower House
of Congress, and he is responsible for the
leadership in that body.
"Out In my country the people have no
faith IN the leadership OF Mr.. Cannon or
Senator Aldrich. They have heard so
much OF this combination and its control
OF legislation that they regard this con-
troll as being in the interest OF the inter
ests. The people believe the interests con-
troll Congress
Cannot See Their Defense.
7 don't know how the Senators and
leading Republican papers are going TO
defend this tariff bill They have out
spokenly fought IL They should fight st.
and our people want them TO fight it. but
they have taken up the cudgels in defense
OF Il Our people-not alone Minnesotans.
but the tiIlers OF the soil and the workers
Of the entire Middle west-are hoping
against hope: expecting TO get something
they know they won't get. But they VIII
get an accounting from the party they
trusted
The Republican party cannot place the
blame for the Aldrich bin on a few Re
publicans and few Democrats. It is up
TO the party, no matter how such and
such a Senator voted and spoke; the
party which passes the Aldrich bill will
get al the praise and criticism that the
bill merits.
Il have heard since 1 came 70 Wash
ingtor that Senator Aldrich IS not
alarmed about the Middle West In fact.
I am told that he has said the RepubH-
cans can elect a President without the
Middle West; that the Feast and West
VIII carry the election. 1 recommend
Senator Aldrich as a soothsayer, but not
as a campaign manager.
Not the BIZ Expected.
I am not intimately acquainted with
the provisions Of the bill, and do not
assume to criticise any measure pending
before Congress. The fundamentals OF
the bill are known 10 me. and I am GER
tain that the bill as It now stands is not
the revision Of the tariff the people ex-
pected.
a few years ago remember that the
Democrats were sneered at because they
declared for a tariff for revenue. That
Is exactly what the Republican party is
standing for to-day
Middle Western farmers and producers
do not depend on tiday waves for their
prosperity. The tariff does not bring good
times or bad times TO The Widdle West
with the calling OF the roll in the Senate.
Down East the tariff. no doubt, has a
big effect on the people, but out our way
re are not disturbed because some critics
condemn the debate over the tariff bin.
We can wait for good bill. We want
blu passed as rapidly as possible. but we
want q bill passed that Will come I'd 10
our expectations No spur in the interest
OF both demands viii suit Us If II means
that we must take any bin agreed upon
by the leaders.
We DO not want a bad bill Just be-