The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-03
Kansas Senator Declares in a
Speech in the Senate
That He Will Not Vote for the
Pending Tariff Bill.
IN HIS DENUNCIATION
He Calls 1t a Violation of the
Party's Pledges.
Fundamentally Wrong and in
Some Details Iniquitous.

Washington, Aug. 3.-The principal
speech on the Republican side against
the conference report on the tariff bill
yesterday was made by Senator Bris-
tow of Kansas, who declared that he
would not vote for the adoption of tie
report.
Recalling incidents of the last ma
tional campaign in which he had taken
part, Senator Bristow declared that
President Taft, in Kansas, had favored
a revision of the tariff downward and
he CBristow) had been elected to the
senate on that issue.
1T was then said the cost Of produc-
ton had been reduced and that the
rate of duty should be reduced pro-
portionately," he explained land L
have endeavored to keep that pledge"
The fact was. he said, that practical
ly no reduction had been obtained.
The tax" said Mr. Bristow, has
been taken off hides and it has been
added to the sole leather suit case that
the American citizen buys and yet it
has been advertised that a reduction
has been made on the leather schedule
for the benefit of the American eiti-
zen. Apparently" continued Mr. Bris-
tow, "the only thing considered In
formulating the cotton schedule has
been the greed of the cotton manu-
Taking up one after another of the
schedules he undertook to d daDtonstrars
in detail that the Payne oil had ef-
fected no material reduction in the
duties by which the consumers would
be benefited. Explaining that numeri-
caIly the bill contained more increases
than decrease, he declared that the de-
creases were generally unimportant.
His Consideration for Taft.
"As Republican senator" said Mr.
n ILL 4
party in placing Mr.. Taft in the most
embarrassing position in which II is
possible for a president to be placed;
that is to require him either to sign a
bill that is not what was promised the
people or to compel him to repudiate
the action of a. majority of his party in
both branches of the congress by a
veto. He has, in substance, appealed
to this congress to keep faith with the
people but in effect it is a bill to ignore
that appeal. I love the president. He
has honored me with his friendship. I
am devoted to the welfare of his ad-
ministration and, for one. I viii never
vote to send him a DILL for approval
that is violation oF his party pledges,
and which is also in my judgment.
fundamentally wrong and in many OF
its details iniquitous-
Il set UP no standard for other sem
ators. Every man should vote as his
conscience and judgment dictate. But
1 feel that had I supported this bill,
/ would be recreant to my duty as a
senator and unfaithful to the people
who sent me here to represent them
and 1 cannot do it,
Saying he believed the passage of the
bill would only be the beginning Of
popular discussion Of the tariff. Sen
ator Bacon expressed himself as eX-
trenely anxious that there should be
no question as to the responsibility Of
senators for the framing Of that meas
ure He prepared a. collection of every
A~4I-r En = n
amendments to the bill, together with
an explana tion of the method Of voting
in the senate.
The table, he said, showed the atti-
+1,de Of the members of the two par
ties to all the questions presented. He
explained that it showed that there
had been 1877 yea and nay votes OF
which the Democrats had voted Tor
duties. except that in two instances the
Republicans had voted for lower duties.