Norwich bulletin., 1911-01-30
Taft Stands Firm
 For Reciprocity
REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CON.
 GRESS EMBARRASSED.
PRESIDENT UNC0NCERNED
About the Situation-Disregard Mere Political Objections, Whether from Insurgents or Stand-Patters.

Washington, Jan. 29.-Embarrassed IS mild word to define the predica- ment in which republican members of congress found themselves since President Taft submitted his pro- gramme for a reduction in the cost of living, through the medium of commer- clal reciprocity with Canada Predictions That Party Will Be Dis
 rupted.
 High protectionists, confident of the sympathy of the executive, have not hes1tated to go to the White House with predictions that the party will be disrupted if the programme is is- sisted upon. Insurgent republicans many of whom have become unae custoned to go to the White House al all, have been pursuing the policy oi silence. While some of them are ready to admit that the proposed agreement IS in line with their tariff arguments in the past, they fear to adopt it lest they bring upon their heads the Wrat th of agriculturalists.
 President Meets all Arguments.
 President Taft appears to be about the only one who is showing no con- cern about the situation. He is said to have met all arguments against the agreement with d determine ton to dis regard mere political objections whether they come from stand patters or insurgents.
 That President Taft realizes fully what arguments would be advanced by protectionists against freedom ol trade relations with Canada is provef by the fact that not d single member of the ways and means committee oi the house or the finance committee o1 the senate was appraised in advance as to what articles would be affected by the treaty.
 His consultations were held ex- clusively with the government trade experts and only such of those as were believed to be beyond politica influence. In nothing that he has done since he had been president, has MT Taft displayed so much independent spirit.
 Mysterious Situation.
 Progressive republicans are deriv- ing some comfort from the fact thai Senator Aldrich and Speaker Cannon and numerous others of the "olG guard" were apparently as much 1T the dark as anyone else about the presidents plans. The prOgressives admit that the situation is mystifying They knew they were not being call ed in during the negotiations with Can ada,s commercial representatives bu they learn that the stand-patters were equally neglected.
 President Counts Upon the Masses.
 The question which has ariser naturally is How can President Taf expect to bring about favorable actior on the agreement without having tn. support of some faction of his ewI party in congress? Some want t< know if MT. Taft is depending who'll. upon the known democratic suppor for the programme. Those who have taken the trouble to talk with ths president about the matter are sait to have been told that he counts upof the people generally, the masses wht think he is trying to lower the oos of food to create sentiment necessar, to induce congress to act.
 Ready With Terrifying Figures.
 The annual dinner ef the Ohio so. ciety is to be held in this city to- morrow night and President Taft is tt be one of the speakers. It is expected that he will take this occasion to say something about reciprocity. Poli- tical leareds are wondering if he vii tell the diners what he inee1,ds to d. if congress fails to act on the agree ment at the present session. There ha. been a great deal of talk of an extrz session if the reciprocity Legislation fails and 1t is known that much of thi, talk was brought from the White Ehouse by men who enjoy confidentia relations with the president.
 The tariff board, the bureau O. statistics and other bodies which art analyzing constantly the economic questions involved in the commerce ol this country, are ready to fortify Presi- dent Taft with any figures he may need in carrying on a campaign e1 a0uc1fiOp