The Washington times., 1911-02-09
DEMOCRATS FIRM
FOR RECIPROCITY
Prospective Chairman of
Ways and Means Commit
tee So Convinced.
BY JOHN SNURE.

II President Taft should call an extra
session to force Congress to rauly
Canadian reciprocity, or If he seeks 10
force reciprocity legislation in the next
regular session, he VIII find the Dems-
Gratis arrayed with him.
While there will be some exceptions
to this, especially in the Senate II Is
a fact that the Democrats are not only
committed to the Canadian reciprocity
arrangement now, but they are going to
stay committed to it,
President Taft doubtless knows this
and understands that with the Demo-
Gratis prepared to stand by his program
he is more than likely to get IL throush
Congress sooner or later.
II has been freely talked that Whlle
the House Democrats have bound them-
selves to Canadian reciprocity IN caucus
This affects only the present congress
and that next session. the DeIn9c[aIs T'i,Is
will throw reciprocity aside and VIII
work on revision on their own uneS;
II does not appear there is any sound
basis for talk of this sort;
Underwood Expects Adherence.
Representative oscar Underwood OF
Alabama, who will be the new chairman
of Ways and Means, and who Is the
peer of any Democrat in Congress In
his understanding of tariff matters, e1-
pressed the view today that the Demo-
Gratis would not desert Canadian reel
procity.
'It is true the action of the Demo
cratic members in caucus the other
night was binding only as to this Con-
gress." said Mr.. Underwood. But my
belief is that the Democratic members
generally, having taken a stand for
reciprocity this session, will adhere to
it,"
Mr.. Underwood pointed out that the
reciprocity agreement, however much
some of its details might be objected 10,
was after all in accordance with the
views of the Democrats ana that II
Comprehended concessions from Canada.
While the Democrats might lower Qu-
ties, they could not by simple Lowering
of dulles get concessions from Canada
in return. Hence, Mr.. Underwood
deemed it advisable to support the reel
procitv agreement, not merely in thls
Congress but from the first to last.
The Democrats are by far in more
united position than the Republicans are
on Reciprocity. The expectation is that
comparatively few Senate Democrats
VIII in the last analysis stand out
against the agreement, If given chance
TO vote on it Senator Bailey Will heao
a small contingent Oh DSLlOSAo Oo
tors who will not support the agreement.
Republicans Badly Split.
But the Republicans, in House ana
Senate, are badly split. The stand
matters are divided. and some are with
+be Administration and some against H.
The progressives also are divided. Prob
ably the progressives are the most
keenly embarrassed because II they op-
1ose the agreement they are exposed to
the charge of not being consistent with
their previous record for lower tariffs.
Some of the progressives want to op-
pose the agreement on the ground that
At is unduly favorable to the Beef trust,
the Lumber trust, and the Steel trust.
Others say they will stand for free
trade with Canada, but not for an ar
rangement of this kind, which they cali
One-Stded.
In the meantime some of the Demo-
Gratis are getting ready to poke fun at
progressive Republicans who Will not
stand for the reciprocity agreement.
Trhey are going to hold them up to at
tack as occupying just the same posi-
ton for which they criticised Southern
protection Democrats in the tariff SeS-
sion. They are going to say that the
progressives are really opposing reCi-
procity because they think it will cost
them votes in the agricultural States
and that Broussard. Estopinal, Brant-
other Southern Democrats supported
duties on products from their States in
the tariff session for exactly similar