Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1910-04-15

and being successful In the Four
teenth Massachusetts, district In the
election of Eugene N. Foss on the
Democratic ticket in Republican
section of the state, the present mi
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 we're abnormal
and that Foss who was elected by the
Democrats was in reality Republican
and that his opponent was 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 few days, or the cut.
ting down greatly of the Republican
majority, will prove that the country
Is ripe for change in the party con-
troll of the lower house of congress.
VIII Congress Pay Tariff Board7
1t is still question whether Pres
ident Taft is to be given the S250,000
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
tion the appropriation. Early in the
season Senator Hale of Maine, who
is protectionist Of the old school,
gave sharp intimation that If 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-
tion 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 a necessity.
Treaty with Liberia Opposed.
II the administration Is to secure,
what 1t so heartily desires, treaty
only after troubles that may take on
the form of a 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 1t was considered sort of haven
for negroes, and 1t was the hopeful
belief of many of the old time abo-
litionists that in Liberia the black
race would prove that 1t was thorough.
| ly capable of self-government
In his annual message to congress,
President Taft gave considerable
space to the troubles in Liberia. He
called attention to the fact that there
Is provision in an early treaty with
the African republic under which the
United States may be called upon for
advice or assistance. Pursuant to
! this provision and In the spirit of the
moral relationship of the United
States to Liberia, that republic last
year asked this government to lend
assistance in the solution of certain
of their national problems"
Not long ago the report of the
commission which the United States
sent to Liberia was made public. and
the president has said that he hopes
as a result of the commissions report
some helpful measures might result
and so through the department OF
state he has called the attention of the
senate to the subject.
Position of United States.
Recently Secretary Knox invited the
members of the foreign relations com
mittee of the senate to a dinner al
his residence, and there he laid before
them the reasons as he saw them fol
the negotiating of treaty with Ii
IBERIA. 1t seems to be the feeling IL
the state department that the African
country is likely to be made the scene
Of exploitation of English, French o.
German interests, and that 1t may bt
eventually that one or the other o
these countries may actually threaten
the territorial integrity of countr!
which In a sense is considered a ware
of the United States.
The members of the senate commit
tee made 1t plain to Secretary Kno:
that they were not In favor of treat.
with Liberia that In any way woul'
bind this country to course whicl
might run counter to the wishes o
the three great European countrie
which have been named. Mr.. Knox
guests told him that while the Uni
ted States was extremely cordial in 1t
good wishes to Liberia and had don
much for that country. 1t had done n
more than Great Britain. and that
would seem like slur at the Englisl
J people If this country were even II
J directly to intimate that 1t feared tn
British government was to be an az