Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-07-22

Persuasive Efforts With
Conferees So Far
Unsuccessful.
DINNER NOT EFFECTIVE
President Not Optimistic as to
Time Required to Formu-
late Report.

Washington, July -22.-In discussing
today with various of his callers on
the results of last nights tariff dinner
at the White house. President Taft eS-
pressed himself as entirely satisfied.
The president declared with reference
10 placing raw materials on the free
list. especially hides. that it is his
chief interest now in finding out what
could be done with reference to man.
ufactured products.
He called attention today to the fact
that he had been inadvertently misrep-
resented in demanding~free raw mater
ials all along the line.
The presidents position as outlined
in his statement of last Friday was
that he favored an inquiry TO find out
what degree of protection. if any. was
necessary in the matter of ore, hides.
coal, etc He further stated at that
time he was not committed to any
principal of free raw materials. but
was committed TO a downward revision
of the tariff
President Hopeful.
Mr.. Taft was not optimistic in his
talk today as TO the time that will be
required to whip the measure into
shape. but he expressed hope that the
conference report win be possible by
Saturday or Monday
Washington, July 22-Senator
Cummins OF Iowa, who is a leader
among the progressive" senators.
today took breakfast with the pres
ident and spent two hours with him
in discussion of the tariff situa-
tion. They went over the entire
ground and it is understood found
themselves to be very much in ac-
cord Cummins spoke. for coterie
of 10 senators who voted against the
Payne-Aldrich bill as ii. pleases the
senate He assured the president ot
the continued adherence of those
senators to the policy of 4 lower tar
iff. He was told in return that the
president was losing no opportunity
to impress the wisdom of such q
course upon the senators and mem
bers of the house. Cummins will to-
night give out a statement regard
ing the attitude of the .'progres
siyes.'' He will say that it is no
necessarily free raw material thai
the 'prQgressives" demand, bu
rather general lowering of duties.
serves Nosiee on Leaders.
Washington, July 22.-President Tat
served notice on the congressional
leaders of the republican party at th'
White house harmony dinner las
night that the country is looking u
them to keep the pledges made las
fall for downward revision of tn
tariff So far as he is able, the presi
, dent informed his guests he intend
to see that these pledges are kept.
Friends of Senator Burrows. are re
sponsible for the statement that tn
dinner failed to advance in any part
cular the Taft plans for free raw ma
terials and material reductions. Ser
ator Burrows and those who oppose fire.
raw materials told the president, it il
said, that free iron ore. free hides an
free coal cannot pass the senate. TIL
president insisted strongly and III
gently that if the senate conferee
would yield the senate would accep
report carrying these materials I
the free list. In this assertion he ha
the partial support of Senator Crane.
The president then said that tn
question would have to be thresh3d OF
further in the conference, and if n