Evening star., 1909-07-16
TO RAISE STANDARD PROTECTION IF NEEDED
Taking Steps to Improve the Taft's Position Based on
Consular Service. "Question of Facts
NO ORNAMENTAL PLACES WOULD DO RIGHT THING
Department Wants Vigorous Plea Representatives
Men of Capacity Save Political Lives
ELIMINATION OF FOREIGNERS OPPOSES UNNECESSARY
Filled With
Amercans-Poicy
Ambassadors Them Their Jobs
WOULD DO RIGHT THING
Answer to Plea of Representatives to
Save Political Lives.
OPPOSES UNNECESSARY DUTIES
Southern Republicans Tell Him Free
Raw Materials Will Cost
Them Their Jobs.

! The White House was stormed today
by a delegation of twenty-three republi-
can representatives, who spent an hour and
half with the President telling him
that their very political lives depended
upon the protection of raw materials.
| 1t has become pretty generally known
about the Capitol that the President has
expressed himself quite freely az favoring
the free entry of hides. oil and coal. and
ma terial reductions on lumber. etc.
! Many representatives in the delegation
| represent southern districts. They told
the President, with plaintive voice, that
they had been elected on the theory that
they would protect raw materials in
which their people are interested, and
that if the party failed to do this their
districts would flop back again into the
democratic column.
| President Taft listened patiently to all
| that was said. He chaffed the repre-
sentatives good-naturedly at times.
Representative Hayes of California
made a speech in favor of protecting iron
ore. for instance The President as sus
The range of the discussion covered
every known variety of raw material.
When it was all done and through with
the President stated his position.
He said he favored protection where
protection is necessary, and that where
protection no longer was needed he was
in favor either of removing the duty en-
| tirely greatly reducing it.
TT is merely a question of facts,
gentlemen he told the representatives.
I'm the light of facts We all want to try
to do the right thing
| The spokesman of the valiant twenty
~
Michigan, who dwelt upon the necessity
| Of placing a high duty upon iron ore,
| Mondell of Wyoming. who is particularly
| interested in coal: Gaines of West Vir-
ginia, coal and iron; Langley of Ken
| lucky, coal and lumber; Cowles of North
| Carolina, lumber Austin of Tennessee,
coal, iron and lumber, and Hayes of Cal
ifornia.
Langley Pleads Expediency.
/ Mr.. Langley put the matter squarely
I'D TO the President as a question of po-
litical expediency.
I'VE come from democratic states some
Of u.s." said Mr.. Langley, but we were
elected as republicans who believe in the
protection of raw materials. Ii we fail
to protect our constituents we will be re-
vised downward into private life"
President Taft said he was as much
interested in republican success as any
one could be.
Other members of the delegation were:
Southwick of New York, Sturgiss. Hub
bard and woodward of West Virginia;
Kennedy, Keifer, Johnson and Joyce of
Ohio: Richardson Of Alabama, Edwards
of Kentucky, Grant of North Carolina,
Hamilton of Michigan, Tener. Bates and
Barchfeld of Pennsylvania, and Slemp OF
Virginia. ..t
Senator Bradley of Kentucky made a
twenty-fourth member of the party for a
few minutes He left shortly after the
conference began.
Pleas of Other Representatives.
I'VE do not understand" said Repre-
sentative woodward of West Virginia,
that the republican platform promise of
tariff revision included free raw material.
That was not promised in the platform.
We are willing to accept revision in line
with platform promises, but we are not
for free raw material.
Representative Barchfeld Of Pittsburg
told the President that If free raw ma
terials such as coal and iron ore, are
granted, the industrial geogra ply of the
Country will be changed from Pittsburg
to the Atlantic coast, at point near
Newport News and Norfolk. The Vir-
ginian railway. built by the late III. II.
Rogers from the coal fields of Virginia
to the Atlantic sea board. taps the richest
and best coal In the country, easily and
cheaply handled.
Mr. Barchfeld believes that free raw
material will result in Pitisburg even
gra phical map. President Taft could not
agree with this gloomy view of the Pitts
burg man.
Alarm Over Downward Revision.
Ultra high protectionists are alarmed
over the general understanding that the
President is fighting yaliantly for down
ward revision.
Senator Scott of West Virginia, wear
ing a most mournful look, has called at
the White House several times lately
to inquire just how far the President
is going in the direction of revision. He
is pleading for protection, and declares
| that the industries in his state will suf-
fer from reduction of duties such as
now seems TO be the program.
Senator Burkett of Nebraska, who talk
ed tariff with the President today, SEEM
ed to partake of the hopeful feeling of
the President that a good tariff bill will
be enacted.
Il believe we will get fine bill out
of the fight that is in progress" said
MIR. Burkett
As to Hosiery and Gloves.
Representative Foss of Chicago intro
duced number of big dealers in hosiery
and gloves, including X. Barnhardt, man
u,
Chicago. The visitors told the President
that they were opposed to the House rates
on these articles and favored the Senate
rate, which is the same as in the Dingley
law.
Chicago people are strongly for down
ward revision" said Mr.. Foss, and be-
lieye that the duties all along the line
should be lower.
Afraid of the Beef Trust.
= big delegation of Chicago shoe manu-
facturers is in the city and scheduled to
call on the President concerning free
hides. The delegation includes ]. Harry
Selz, NJ Florshiem, II. c. Mcconnell and
j. F. Pratt.
They declare that the big packers of the
country, who already control the meat
prices of the country, have definitely ar
ranged to establish the biggest tannery
In the world, tan the hides Of the cattle
they buy and follow that by putting up
the biggest shoe manufacturing establish
ment in the world. thereby controlling the
bulk Of the shoe business
Recause Of the fear that the packers
will raise the price of hides or at least be
able TO make shoes cheaper than those
now in the business. plans are making
CONTINUED on Twelfth Page)