The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-05-07

trict by q largely lncreaseo nav
and being successful in the Foer-
teenth Massachusetts district In tne
election of Eugene N. Foss on the
Democratic ticket In a Republican
section of the state. the present M
nority party naturally hopes to make
further gain in western New YORK
The Republicans say that In the
Massachusetts, district where the Dem.
ocrats won, conditions were abnormai
and that Foss who was elected by the
Democrats was in reality Republican
and that his opponent was a man not
at all popular. and therefore the DEM
ocratic success is easily to be account
ed for. The Democrats reply simply
that the Republicans are whistling to
keep up their courage, and that the
election of the Democrat in western
New York in a few days. or the cut
ting down greatly of the Republican
majority, will prove that the country
is ripe for a change in the party con-
troll of the lower house of congress.
Will Congress Pay Tariff Board?
1t is still question whether Pres
ident Taft is to be given the $250.000
which he has asked from congress to
pay the expenses of the tariff board
for the next fiscal year. The presi-
dent has urged congress hard to sane
ton the appropriation. Early in the
season Senator Hale of Maine, who
is a protectionist of the old school.
gave sharp intimation that II the
president intended to employ the tariff
board for any purpose except to con-
slider the questions of maximum and
minimum tariff rates and their rela-
ton to our foreign trade and to GUS
toms determinations, congress ought
not to give him money to carry out
his wishes.
The downward revision Republicans.
and the Democrats with them, say
that the fear of the high protection
element is that the tariff board will
conduct investigations for the purpose
of getting material which can be used
in future tariff legislation. and that
the high protectionists fear also that
some of the facts which are adduced
will lead the people to believe that
low rates are necessity.
Treaty with Liberia Opposed.
If the administration is to secure,
what it so heartily desires, a treaty
with Liberia, the boon will be given
only after troubles that may take on
the form of congressional fight. In
reality 1t seems wholly improbable
that the senate will consent to nego-
tiating any treaty with the African
republic at this session. There is a
good deal of sentiment in America in
connection with Liberia because its
government was modelled in the be-
ginning, after that of the United
States, and because in the old slavery
days it was considered sort of haven
for negroes. and it was the hopeful
belief of many of the old time abo-
litionists that in Liberia the black
race would, prove that it was thorough
y capable Of self-government.
In his annual message to congress,
President Taft gave considerable
space to the troubles In Liberia. He
jailed attention to the fact that there
s a provision In an early treaty with
he African republic under which the
United States may be called upon for
advice or assistance. Pursuant to
his provision and in the spirit of the
moral relationship Of the United
States to Liberia. that republic last
1ear asked this government to lend
assistance in the solution of certain
Il their national problems"
Not long ago the report of the
which the United States
ent to Liberia was made public, and
he president has said that he hopes
8 result Of the commissions report.
ONE helpful measures might result.
nd so through the department OF
tate he has called the attention of the
enate to the subject.
Position Of United States.
Recently Secretary Knox invited the
,embers Of the foreign relations com.
1ittee Of the senate to dinner at
is residence. and there he laid before
hem the reasons as he saw them for
be negotiating Of q treaty with II.
eria- 1t seems to be the feeling in
he state department that the African
ountry Is likely to be made the scene
exploitation Of English, French or
erman interests. and that 1t may be
that one or the other of
1ese countries may actually threaten
he territorial integrity of country
'hich in a sense is considered a ward
the United States.
The members Of the senate commit
'e made It plain to Secretary Knox
lat they were not In favor Of a treaty
it'll Liberia that in any way would
Ind this country to q course which
light run counter to the wishes Of
le three great European countries
hich have been named. Mr.. Knox's
tests told him that while the lint