The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-02
IS TAFT PLEDGED
 ID VETO TARIFF? RumOr Says He Has Made
 Compromise ON RECIPROCITY BILL John Sharp Williams Celebrated His 57th Birthday Sunday-Some
 of His Work in the
 Senate
By WALTER. HARPER

Washington. August -(SpeeiaD-There is rumor in Washington that is said to be very well founded that President Taft is bound by pledge to the stand pat republicans to veto any tariff revision bill that may pass the present session of Congress.
 It is said the President gave this prom ise to secure the support of some of the leading republicans for his pet reciproc- ity measure MT. Penrose, republican leader in the Senate, seems to have been the man that secured the pledge and 1t is probable that Senator Shoot of Utah was also involved in the alleged pledge or agreement
 It is Known that MT. Penrose was not much taken with the reciprocity idea at the beginning of the present special ses- sion and it was a matter of considerable surprise when he suddenly espoused it's advocacy.
 If such a pledge was secured from the President the fact opens a wide field for political speculation
 It Is interesting to discover that MT. Penrose so feared tariff legislation at this session that he was willing to sacrifice his principle on so important a measure as Canadian reciprocity to block the other legislation. And this in view of the fact that he has agreed with the President that the woolen schedule of the present law is 'indefensible" and should be re- vised downward.
 Another speculative feature of interest
 in connection with the rumor that in some qrarters has been given the dignity of truth is that MT Penhose was in a posi- ton to know as well or better than any one else that presidential veto of any and all tariff revision measures at this time would have brought great embar- Iassment to the executive and the party.
 Senator John Sharp Williams of Mis- Si,sippi celebrated his fifty-seventh birth day Sunday John Sharp is one of the
 most prominent and promising young members of the body He is serving his first term in the higher body and though he announced a determination to keep his peace during this first term of his incum- bency he has already been goaded into taking part in more than one debate. And he has come out from those debates .sith flying colors and increased honor.
 He has crossed with two of the oldest, most experienced and most stubborn members of the Senate. One of these was Joseph W. Bailey, a brother democrat and heretofore the most feared antagon- . ist on the floor. Williams was the first man to break the hoo-doo that seemed 10 surround Bailey. He went at him with out gloves and the best evidence that Bailey was impressed with Williams power is that Bailey has been very meek sInee the combat.
 MT. Williams other antagonist was Sem ator Hepburn, the fire-eating, blood-swab- bing giant from the west. Williams. with his head perched on one side, and breath ing frey eloquence in a suppressed under tone that was most biting and effective,
 fairly walked into the belligerent west erner and ate him alive. Mr. Hepburn | recalled some of his most vicious lan- | guage before it got into the record. | Senator Williams is one of the most regular attendants on the sessions of the | Senate. He is following the proceedings | closely and is learning more in this pres ent session than most senators are able to absorb in a term.
 John Sharp promises to be one of the | livest wires in the Senate Everybody expects him to lead his party on the floor when it is in the majority a few years | hence.