New-York tribune., 1911-12-10
SAYS TARIFF IS ISSUE
Underwood CritiCiSeS Trusts I'm
portanCe in Taft'S Message.
LONGWORTH SUPPORTS VIEW
Eleven Hundred Persons Gather
at Pennsylvania Society Din
ner at the Waldorf.

oscar W. Underwood. Democratic leader
OF the House Of Representatives, said last
night at the dinner of the Pennsylvania
Society that there was nothing in the solu-
ton q the trust issue Tor men of eithe"
political party TO try to make capital out
Of 1t was too big and momentous ques-
ton for that he added.
lie again voiced indirectly the disappoint-
ment of the Democrats that President Tatt
had made the trust issue the subject OF his
special message. and repeated what other
members Of his party had said that the
tariff question was the one that would give
the predominant issue TO the next Presi-
dental campaign.
In this view he was supported by repre-
sentative LongwOrth, who asked thdt lhe
question of protection and the raising Oh
revenue through customs duties De fanny
presented to the people by both poltica'
parties.
The Democratic leader Of Congress spoke
at the sixth annual dinner of the Fehns!l-
vania Society at the Waldorf held IN
honor of the Committee on Ways anu
Means of the present Congress. Inc prIh-
opal speakers were members OF that cohi-
mittee.
The speakers. besides Mr.. UnderWoou anu
Mr.. Longworth. were Representatives Johii
Dalzen and Claude Kitchin' ana huuoip''
Blankenburg, Mayor Of Philadelphia .,
Eleven hundred men, representing "i'
classes of New Yorks political business
and professional life. and several score VI
guests from Pennsylvania. croWdeu the
large ballroom Of the Waldorf ana lhe
adjoining rooms. into which the overno"
had 10 be directed. Before the speaking
began the galleries were filled with women
and soon there was only standing room
left for the men who came from the tables
in the separate rooms 10 hear the speakers
Colonel Robert Means Thompson, presl-
dent of the society was toastmaster. be"
fore he, assumed his duties a large silver
loving cup was presented to him on behaH
Of the society in appreciation OF his eHor's
toward the placing of the Penn memorial
tablet in London. Governor Tener of Penn
sylvania made the presentation speech
after the cup was brought in in a process
sion made up of a dozen OF bearers carry
ing the banner Of the society, the stars
and Stripes and the flags Of Pennsylvania
cities and organizations.
At the table Of honor were seated Colone!
Robert Means Thompson, John X. Tener
Governor OF Pennsylvania: Major General
Frederick d. Grant the Rt. Rev. James
II. Darlington, Bishop. of Harrisburg;
REPRESENTATIVE John Dalzen oscar w.
Underwood. Nicholas LOngwOrth, Francis
r. Harrison. William G. Brantley, Dorsey
W. Shackleford. Claude Kitchin Lincoln
Dixon. W. S Hammond, Samuel W. Nc
call e. J. Hill James c. Needham, Henry
r. Rainey, William Hughes, Andrew j.
Peters and Corden Hull; Senator Boies
Penrose. Dr. s. r. Mccormick, chancellor
Of the University Of Pittsburgh; Charles f.
Wright, state Treasurer of Pennsylvania;
Rudolph Blankenburg. Mayor Of Philadel-
phia: John NJ Reynolds Lieutenant Gov
ernor of Pennsylvania. the Rt. Rev. Ethel
bert Talbot Bishop Of Bethlehem; A. +.
Sisson. Auditor General of Pennsylvania;
John Wanamaker, Henry Phipps, William
c. McAdoo and James Bertram.
Speaking of the trust problem Mr.. Under
wood said in part:
wish to say at the outset that / have
10 panacea TO suggest for the situation,
and 1 10 believe that little reiecuoh anu
the recourse TO some old fashioned lueds
will be Of real service TO us. For, althousn Il
we nave a difficult problem 10 solVe, IL -
not so difficult but that with soDerness ana anu
deliberation and with experience we shdli
be able TO solve ii Alright.
You have only to read the recent mes
sage of the President on the subject 10
understand what / have in mind. After a
very clear and lawyerlike exposition OF
what the Sherman act has been construed
10 mean. he ruSheS on to suggest lndenihte
additional legislation by means OF federal
act or otherwise 10 correct the very abuses
which, in another part OF the message, II
is asserted can be reached and prohibited
by the act as IL is now interpreted. Is II
rot proper for all of us, irrespective OF
party. to insist that the time has come
for us 10 join together in putting an end
TO the prohtlesS agitation and proposals
for tinkCrng Of the law? As the necessity
arises we can. from time 10 time. enforce
the act as IL now is without fear or favor
but without any disposition TO get political
10 DO.
Then, as We have more knowledge Of the
scope and effect of the act, from the de-