The Washington herald., 1909-08-04

President Taft is elated over tho pres
ent state Of the tariff situation.
He sees no reason why Congress should
not complete its labors this week Callers
at the White House yesterday talked TO
the President about the tariff almost ex-
clusively. Mr.. Taft had as luncheon
guests Senators Dolliver, Beveridge,
Brown. and Borah. all of whom are iden-
titled with the progressive Republican
wing in the Upper House.
Il is assumed that the President tried
10 persuade Messrs. Deliver and Bev-
eridge to vote for the conference report.
These two Senators voted against the
Aldrich bill. and are credited with de-
termination 20 stand out against the con-
ference report
Senator Brown voted against the bill,
but Il is understood that he has been
brought into line Senator Borah stood
with the majority on the Aldrich bill. but
he is one Of the range Senator's who were
bitterly opposed 10 the proposition TO
place hides on the free list. For time It
looked as II he would join the boilers.
Taft Pleads for Bill.
The President has pointed out 10 some
OF the progressives the inadvsability.
from a political standpoint, for any of
them to part with the majority when the
final vote is taken on the tariff. Whether
his arguments with them VIII have any
weight viii not be disclosed until tho con-
ference report is called up for passage.
From present indications. II is practi-
cally certain that Senators Nelson and
Minis. Of Iowa; Bristow. Of Kansas. and
La Toilette Of Wisconsin. will vote
against the conference report.
An effort was made yesterday TO induce
President Taft TO insist that the tariff
question be recommitted TO conference.
Senator McCumber. Of North Dakota, took
this matter up with the President.
Mr.. McCumber Is a member Of the Com
mittee on Finance, and during the prog
ress Of the Aldrlch bill through the Sen
ate upheld the hands OF Mr.. Aldrich at
every turn. lie was successful. too. in
having a number Of amendments incor-
porated in the measure. All OF those in
which Mr. McCumbcr had any pride Of
authorship. or IN which mis- constituents
were interested were lost IN conference.
So Mr.. McCumber is a very angry man.
He pleaded with the President TO use
his influence TO have the report recon-
mitted. insisting that the bill was a good
one for the East. but a bad one in many
particulars for the West; that the manu-
facturers Of the East got practically
everything they demanded. while the agri-
cuiturists Of the West had been denied
the revision which they had demanded.
McCumher Disappointed.
The President could not see his way
clear 10 accede 20 Senator McCumber' S
request He expressed the belief that #
the conference report were recOmmitted
the legislation would fail. and its failure.
10 his mind, would be a national calam-
ity. Senator McCumbe- mOurnfully left
the White House and wended his way 10
the Senate. where he delivered a speech
stating his objections to the proposed
tariff. but announced that he would vote
for #.
Republicans from the West say that
the work OF Congress at this session
VIII not stop the agitation for a revision
Of the tariff. Downward revision is what
the West wanted. and still wants, they
declare. while the proposed law revises
IL upward. For this reason they say that
the agitation for downward revision will
be continued during the summer. and
some Of them are bold enough 10 predict
that when Congress meets in December
fl viii be forced 10 buckle down to an
other revision OF the tariff