The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-14
Col. Henry WattersOn Con- ters With the Leaders
 on the Subject
PARTY LOOKS AHEAD ID
 PRESIDENTIAL YEAR
Democrats Are Hopeful That Inc Senate May Be Prevailed Upon To Accept Qualifications of
 The Tariff
By wATrERsoN sTEALEy

Washington, DecemDer lo.-lSpeclal.)- )- The opening gun of democratic tariff re- vlsion has been fired. With the object in view of clearing the decks for re- vision of the tariff as soon as the new House is organized MT. Henry Watterson was requested by Representative Champ Clark, the democratic leader, to meet the democratic members of the ways and means committee and confer with them on the subject The conference took place in MT. Clark's office in the capitol and 1t is believed the machinery was put in motion for the preliminary steps lead ing up to the enactment of tariff legisla- ton upon which the party will go before the country in 1912.
 Representative Clayton of Alabama, the chairman of the democratic caucus. will therefore issue a call for caucus to be composed of the democratic members of the present House, and the democrats who have been elected to the new Con- gress. This caucus will probably meet early in January. Through a method which 1t will determine the caucus will designate a tentative democratic mem- bership of ways and means committee
  will immediately proceed to go into the tariff schedules and prepare itself to place a tariff programme before the House with the fall of Speaker Clarks gavel.
 Two Needless Sessions
 In spite of the fact that there have . been two needless extra sessions of Congress to increase the tariff, there is little democratic hope that the President will call one extra session to reduce the tariff. In view of the improbability, therefore, of an extra session 1t Is deemed imperative by democrats to go thorough ly into the schedules in order that the House may get to work as early as prac- ticapie aesst sDe1ssnper While the dem ocrats are hopeful that in view of the sentiment for tariff revision expressed al the polls last month the Senate can be prevailed upon to accept modif1cations of the existing law, 1t is realized that the debate may be long drawn out and as the national conventions follow in June or July, six months after the commence ment of the regular session, no time is to be lost In putting the matter squarely up to the Senate and the President. Should the one block legislation or the otSsr veto 1t the issue Is clearly drawn. Should
 
 cemocratic gain.
 No Details Worked Out
 At a conference in MT. Clark's office no details were decided upon. It is well understood, however, that most dem ocrats are convinced of the wisdom of taking up each schedule separately.
 in this way the attention of the com tittee as well as that of the country can . concentrated and the necessity of re- iision demonstrated. The woolen sched- ale is confessedly the most iniqultous of ! the schedule of the Payne act, although the late Senator Deliver declared that the cotton schedule is little better. The probabilities are that the woolen sched ule would be the first to receive atten- tion at the hands of the committee. It Is generally believed in Washington that the tariff commission already has suffi- cient facts at it's disposal to justify radi- cal changes in this schedule and is pur- posely withholding its information.
 The democrats of course, intend to pro- ceed absolutely independently of the tariff committee. what it gives out will be treated exactly as any other testi- mony offered in tariff hearings. The House Is to frame It's tariff bill, not a commission. The meeting in MT. Clark's office was most harmonious Those who attended have not the slightest doubt that on practically every feature of the proposed legislation a united democratic house will be represented. MT. Waiter sons acceptance of MT. Clark's invita- ton to discuss the tariff with the pres- ent members of the ways and means committee was highly gratifying to the members.
 Both MT. Clark and MT. Underwood. the one conceded to be the next speaker. the other conceded to be the next chair man of the ways and means committee, are natives of Kentucky and spent their youth in that state.
 Views On the Tariff
 Their views on the tariff were gained through the editorial columns of the Courier-Journal and the principles of tariff reform enunciated there will find their way into the statute books. If united democratic House has anything to do with 1t.
 MT. Watterson's long experience and the information possessed by him on the subject proved of absorbing interest and advantage and there is a general feeling among democrats tonight that out of the conference will come unanimity among House democrats which will result in placing the party in a most advantageous position In the presidential campaign.