The Washington herald., 1911-06-23
SUSPICION THREATENS
NEW SENATE COALITION
Allies Question Each Others Motives and Democrats
Waver in Their Attitude


suit Of Wednesdays coalition between
the Democrats and the insurgents is still
very bad, but things seem to be shap-
ing themselves in favor, OF Canadian
reciprocity and the discontinue of the
insurgents. Several efforts were made
yesterday by the insurgents and the
Democrats to reach a common ground
on which they could stand in regard
to reciprocity. the farmers free list bill,
the wool bill, and other tarin revision
measures, but at the end there was no
definite prospect OF any agreement.
Senator Bailey, Of Texas; Senator Sim
mons. of North Carolina, and two or
three other Democrats whose opposition
to the reciprocity bill Is well known,
are willing to compromise with the iu-
surgents and secure, II possible, an
agreement which will bring about an
amendn.nt to the reciprocity bill by
way Of a general revision Of the i'm
portant schedules OF the present tariff
law. The weli-known opposition Of
Bailey and Simmons to reciprocity has
led other Democrats, however, to re-
gard their proposal with suspicion.
These Democrats point out that any
attempt to amend the reciprocity bill and
teopardize it's life will in effect be a
reputation Of the Democratic programme
of the recently elected House of Rep
resentatives in regard to this measure.
These Democrats favor not only the
passage OF the reciprocity bill in the
form II came from the House, but also
the passage Of the farmers free list bill
and the wool revision bill without any
very radical changes.
The insurgents, on the other hand,
IN deserting the regular organization and
locking arms with the Democrats, were
actuated chiefly by a desire to kill the
reciprocity bill. There is no likelihood
that they will accept either the wool bill
or the farmers free list bill in their
present forms, and they are, in fact, al
ready busy drawing up amendments of
their own covering most of the impor-
tant schedules Of the Payne-Aldrich tar
if law.
II the Democrats, with the possible
exception Of Bailey and one or tive Of
his followers, agree to stand by reci-
procity without an amendment that bill
will be passed. In that event the situ-
alton will come to this: Will the Demo-
Gratis, for the sake Of obtaining tariff
revision legislation, throw their own
measures overheard and consent to COM
promises which will have the support OF
the insurgents?
The general impression now Is that
they will not do this. Several Democrats
do not hesitate to say that there would
be more political capital made for the
Democratic party by having the present
House tariff bills voted down by the
Democrats than there would be in Dass-
ing compromise measures with the aid
Of the Republican insurgents
The Democrats already have accom-
plished the purpose from the coalition.
They have succeeded in getting the wool
revision bill and free-list bill before the
Senate, and are now in a position to
force a record vote upon these meas
ures Senator La Toilette and his fol-
lowers will do everything possible to
bring about a situation where President
Taft will be obliged to veto tariff revision
measures.
The farmers free list and the Under
wood wool revision, bill were reported
out to the Senate yesterday BY Senator
Penrose, chairman of the Finance Com
mittee The committee held q special
meeting in the morning in response to
call issued by the chairman, following
the adoption by the Senate Wednesday
night of the Gore resolution directing the
committee to report the wool bill on
July 10.
Friends of Canadian reciprocity ad-
mitted that the muddle in the Senate
would delay action on that measure, but
they believe that It will finally be passed.
The insurgens, on the other hand, con-
tended that the reciprocity agreement
would be amended and that the way
would be opened for a general revision Of
the tariff.
There will never be any reciprocity
legislation" said Senator Bristow, ''un-
less amendments are adopted correcting
some of the gravest evils of the Payne
tariff bill in the wooden, cotton, sugar,
and iron and steel schedules. If the
President will not accept the reciprocity
bill as amended. what would he do, I
ask you, with bills amending these sched-
ules If presented for his approval as in
dependent measures?"
Senator La Toilette Is now engaged in
drawing up a revision Of the woolen and
cotton schedules, and other insurgent
Senators are working on the steel, lead,
and other important schedules.
Speaker Clark. commenting on the
situation in the Senate, said last night:
''In view of the situation in the Senate
to-day, I would say that the House pro-
poses to proceed as rapidly as possible
in its revision OF the tariff. The House
will rest for ten days or two weeks, but