New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-08
HITTING TOO NEAR HOME.

The disinclination 81 the Democratic
leaders in Congress 10 force action on
the cotton schedule revision at this SEES
sion is becoming painfully evident. MI
Underwood delayed offering thenew cot
ton schedule as long as he decenty
could. and the House managers put II
through on the theory that Congress
could find an excuse for adjournlng
while II was still Enacted on in the Sen
ate or hung up in conference. II was
probably Mr. UndervoOds hope thar
both the new woolen schedule and the
Farmers Free List bill would he de-
feated in the Senate on straight party
vote. Then the House majority would
have been able TO 20 home with clear
rsrtv record. saving il had done what II
could 70 reduce rates. Bur when Mr.. La
Toilette began 10 dicker with the Demo
cratic Senator'S and finally annexed them
bag and baggage. the situation changed.
II has been demonstrated that there are
enough coalition votes in the Senate to
pass a dozen "popgun' revision bills
bill MI. I nuffNNtl II NV Aii~Ni''A'-
cooperate with Mr. La Toilette in pass
ing them. for that programme would
involve an onslaught on the Southern
cotton. sugar and rice industries which
the majority in the House has 10 appe-
tlte 10 make
Mr. Underwood is now holding up an
agreement in conference on the wool Dill.
He has assumed the obstructive attitude
of insisting that the House majority
shall not compromise with the senate
coalition. although the only chance Of
getting legislation through at either TINS
session or the next lies in compromise.
n j, noteworthy that many Democratic
low tariff newspapers are urging him 70
stand out for the House bill or nothing
which means nothing They also want
~ dodge the necessity Of dealing Win
Southern products such as cotton goods
sugar and rice. for as soon as the Demo-
cratic marty begins 10 cut the protective
fpries on such articles q cry Of anguish
will he heard from many Democratic
constituencies in the South.
Tho Farmers Free List bill as 1t
passed the House made all kinds or
meats free and all kinds Of cereal prod
ucts free except products Of rice. Every
Deuocrat in the Senate except Mr..
Bailey voted 10 pass the House dill I'M
emonded and his detection alone pre-
vented its passage. But when an
or,andment was offered later 10 include
rice and rice products in the free list
there was p hasty dash for cover on the
democratic side. Eighteen southern
democrats voted against the amend
mont and even that fiery champion or
..untaxed foods" Mr. MARITIME. OF new
Jersey changed his vote from the affrm-
alive n the negative in order to obllge
his Southern colleagues. The New Ut
loans Pirayune" ascribes the eleventh
hour rescue If rice 10 the personal pop
u,aritv" Of Senator Foster. u said mat
oven as II turned out, the vote on rice
was "a rude shock" Yet If other gram
nroducts are 10 90 on the free ISL mere
l. no reason except sectional one WHY
,rcducts of rice should not 20 ON also.
Tbe Southern Democrats, except MT.
R,jlev care little about wool Bui When
they are asked 10 apply the theory OF
,bo wool bill to cOttOns. or the theory OF
tho Farmers Free List bill 10 sugar ana
rico they SEQ that they are striking ar
things too near home. u * no Wolder
that they take 20 the WOODS.