Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-18
is BODY BLOW TO ALDRIcH MEN

Taft's Declaration on Tariff Creates
Panic In ReactiOnary Circles.
WASHINGTON, July I7.-President Taft's
emphatic declaration yesterday that he re-
garded the republican platform as mean
ing, and the sentiment of the whole people
as demanding revision downward" ecllpsed
in interest all minor and specific details Of
the tariff struggle in all circles here today.
The statement issued late in the day after
a delegation Of congressman had appealed
to the president for the maintenance of
protection upon raw materials, particularly
iron ore, wool, hides, oil and lumber. pur-
ported to be an outline report of the dis
cussion which took place during the visit
of the delegation and especially Of what
the president said to the visitors; but the
very fact that such a statement was is
sued at all, and in particular, the emphatic
conclusion Of the remarks OF the president
thus reiterated, made it clear to all who
studied the pronouncement that the pres
ident intended 1t virtually as an ultimatum-
Many read into the statement a barely
concealed threat on the part \of the pres
ident that II the bill reached him in a
form which he regarded as unfaithful to
the promises of his party and disobedience
to the sentiment OF the mass Of the people
he would veto II.
Few members OF either house OF congress
would discuss the statement for publica-
tion, and most of the utterances intended
for quotation were of a perfunctory char
acter, but in confidence many talked freely
and some of the conservatives very BIT
terly; some went so far as to say that the
presidents stand meant nothing less than
a defeat Of the bill. One man said;
Now the standpatters will become the
insurgents; the lines will nave to be re-
formed and nobody can forecast the out
come
Sees Fall of Opposition.
Those less excitable inclined to the view
that the president had simply made a long
foreseen move essential to the 'log1c OF the
game" and that II would mean the speedy
dissolution Of the opposition to downward
revision and the termination of the long
fight with the bill at least in the presi-
dents hands substantially as he has all
along Intended It should be.
increasingly. the White House statement
Is regarded as In some sort an informal
message to congress at a critical j~unoture
such as Mr.. Roosevelt often chose for many
OF his directly addressed messages. 1t is
conceded even by the most bitter Of the
opposition that by his attitude thus far OF
hands Off" Mr.. Taft has attained a posi-
tion of enviable Independence and that he
has chosen an advantageous moment when
each house Of congress has fully discussed
the question and placed itself Enthusiastically
on record and their joint product is in the
hands of a conference COMMITTEES to present
his views not only generally TO the people
but specifically to those who are in a posi-
ton TO act declsiveIy on the subject matter.
The general feeling today was that the
presidents pronOuncement would inevitably
have a profound effect, not only immedi-
Ately on the conference committee, but IN
the time intervening before the final vote
in the two houses on those representing
both wings, especially OF the republican
majority. whose official action now and
whose political future after they go home
10 30 deeply involved in the outcome.
do you happen TO know asked one OF
the senatorial tariff conferees. on his way
to the meeting today. whether the presi-
dents attitude on the tariff II correctly
represented by the papers this morning"
The question was addressed TO a news
paper man. who assured the senator there
could be no doubt that the president had
been properly represented.
The senator's reply might have been
forecasted from his c-ountenance. Evidently
he was much depressed and most uncertain
as to the outlook.
Then" he said, the outlook is discour-
aging indeed. While II Is not stated in
30 many words that the president will de-
mAnd tee raw material. such IL the tend