The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-08-09
PARKER'S VIEWS
Thinks Democrats Will Con.
troll Next Congress.
PEOPLE AROUSED OVER TARIFF
Judge Declares Demand For Down.
ward Revision Brought About
the Republican insurgency.
Will Aid Democrats.

New Haven. Conn, Aug. S.-Judge
Alton b. Parker, of New York. who
was here with his family on an auto
mobile trip. was interviewed on ma
tional politics and the effect Of the in
surgent movement on the Republican
and Democratic parties.
He was asked: What do you think
Of the chances for the election OF a
Democrat for president at the next ma
tlonal election?'
That is a subject that | don't care
to discuss at this time We Democrats
ought to consider only the political
events of this coming year
Thinks Congress Will Be Democratic.
But really it seems to me as if the
Democrats couldn't help getting con-
troll Of the next congress. In fact. 1t
would surprise me much If they did
not have a substantial majority or
course. the Republicans will comment
that Is what the Democrats always say
In August. Anyway. that seems to me
to be the trend Of sentiment
ITO what reason do you attribute
the change
Largely to the question Of the tar
Inf and the agitation regarding its re-
vision" replied Judge Parker
Il was in Washington soon after the
call for the extra session of congress
by President Taft. when it was pur-
posed to take up the revision Of the
tariff. A member OF the senate asked
me what | really thought Of the ques-
ton Of revision. Now. Of course. 1t was
the claim of the Republican party, az
ter they had placed that plank in their
national platform. which spoke of the
revision of the tariff. that ii didn't
specify a downward revision. This was
the claim that the senator made to me.
He wanted to know whether his party
would stand for a revision. Now you
must understand that the Republicans
hoped to get l per cent revision on
the average. In answer TO his ques-
tions. | told the senator that | thought
that IL only our party had to be dealt
with the matter might not cause any
trouble. but that It would be the Re
publicans that would have to be re-
gardei primarily. So it happened. The
agitation over the question of what
was intended by the word revision
has been the cause for the fight among
the Republicans themselves. President
Taft afterward said It was meant to be
downward"
do you think the insurgent move
ment will help the Democrats. judgeY'
was asked.
eyes. | believe the insurgents will
aid the Democrats this year, but far
Their than that period don't care to
state. The Republican party failed to
revise the tariff The Republican in
surgency was brought about by this
very fact.
His Views Of insurgents.
Insurgency" continued Judge Par
ker. lis a fight for control in the Re-
publican party. How much its effects
will be materially felt outside the
party can only be seen later. If 1t con-
tinues 10 grow It will increase and be-
come an especially effective and a
broad movement in the end. 1t is Sig
nificant, to say the least, when you see
a man like United States Senator Cum
Minis, of Iowa, who was chairman OF
the state convention, make such an at
tack as he did upon the revision Of the
tariff and the regulars as they are
called. For years the Democratic
speakers have been trying to educate
the people Of this country that there
was need OF a downward revision OF
the tariff, and the people must realize
now that when the Republican party
pledged itself to a revision by placing
such a plank. and it said unequivocal
revision. in their platform. which event
was of such importance that II neces-
Stated the hurried calling together by
President Taft of an extra session OF
congress. It must have been very i'm
portant. Again, when the people see
the Republicans now splitting up on
account of a fight over the same mat
ter, they must begin to think that the
Democrats might have been right af-
ter all"