The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-25
CAN'T BULGE TAFT
FROM FIRM STAND
Political Leaders Paint His
Future in Funeral
Colors.
But i is AL IN VAIN
President Determined to Call
Extra Session and Meet
the Consequences.
BUT IT is ALL IN VAIN

Washington. D. c.. February "a
Gloomy forebodings OF disaster TO the
Republican party, OF the sinking Of
revolution and general depression. in
the event of an extra session of Con-
gress, are being unloaded with per-
ststent regularity at the White House
in the last few days.
Coming. as some Of It has, from per-
sonal admirers and supporters Of the
President In the Senate. House and
elsewhere. the effect might ordinarily
be that President Taft would hest
tate in his openly announced course OF
calling Congress together after March
!. under certain conting But as
it is it has not phased him in the
least.
AS opposed to these dire predictions
from politicians and leaders he is re-
ceiving letters and kilograms by the
hundreds assuring him that he has al
most solid backing from the masses of
the people. The notable exception to
this nearly universal commentator is
the absence OF support from the agri-
cultural elements OF the Northwest and
the Canadian border. both East and
West, directly touched by the pro-
posed trade agreement with Canada.
Firm Gibraltar.
With unprecedented political chaos
in and out OF Washington. with the
shrewdest politicians Of regular OF in
surgent type cropping In the dark
ness, hesiteting what course to fol-
low, the one figure looming up with
the flrmness OF Gibraltar. White
House visitors to-day said. was PreSi-
dent Taft. Not for one moment, he
has frequently told those who limited
fl,lo N1tf az Paw
minatlon, will he falter in his purpose
to convene Congress immediately af-
ter this session.
The cleverest political leaders in the
country. attached to the regular Re-
publican camp, have pointed out to the
President, it has become known. that
in an extra session he will give the
Democrats SUFFICIENT campaign ma te-
rial in revising the tariff to insure
their success and have predicted that
the Democrats will take advantage Of
every opportunity In this direction.
The President is told that the Demo
Gratis Will probably not touch the re-
ciprocity agreement in extra session
simply ignore it altogether--and pro-
coed to embody many Of It's features
in their proposed revision Of the tariff,
claiming the credit for Just what the
President is being pra ised for now.
adroitly appeal to the farmer and turn
that popular parsonage away from his
lifelong fondness for the Republican
party. The farmer has now found out
that he has been protected in the past,
but that much Of this protection has
been withdrawn. The Democrats vii,
tell him that they will even up scores
BY reducing much of the protection
that the manufacturer has had Be
tween the discomfort for tho farmer
and the depression In the business
world generally Republicans will be
ground to pieces; every Yestigc of
hope for return to power In 1912 will
be gone. and Taft Will be done for.
Relies On Popular Support.
The picture is painted In no doubtful
colors TO the Chief Executives: no fune-
real qualities are left out; but he Is
mistaken. Flo Is confident that the
country is with him. and that it will
remain with him. He sharply makes
known that II the Democrats In extra
session try to play politics; II they
blast business and misrcpresent what
they really are doing for political cap
ital he. too. can do aomething by veto.
ing what the opposition puts out, leav-
Ing the situation Just as It is and let
(Continued on Second Pagel