The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-22
PRESIDENT HEARS
CANAOA'S REPLY
He IS Greatly Disappointed
at Defeat of His Pet
Measure
THOUGHT TO OFFSET
HIS TARIFF VETOES
He Defends Attitude Upon
Reciprocity and Wool,
Cotton and Farmers
Free List Bills

KALAMAZOO, MICH, Sept 21.--
President Taft heard the news of the
defeat of reciprocity in the Cana
dian election while at banquet here
tonight. The intelligence east gloom
over the presidential party, and caus-
ed the President intense disappoint-
ment. President Taft, thoroughly cast
down over the defeat over the issue
on which he had counted so much
to help him in his trip through the
West as an offset to his tariff yetoes.
had no extended comment to make.
Il am greatly disappointed over the
result Of reciprocity election. SO far
as the returns have Indicated said
the President Il don't care to say
anything further until / have heard
the complete official returns. / shall
hare nothing further to say tonight"
Al the banquet rendered him later,
however. the President in his address
said.
President Gets News.
II have just been informed that
reciprocity has failed IN Canada For
me 1t is a great disappointment. /
had hoped that X would be put
through. II would be "a good thing
for both countries. 1t takes two to
make a bargain, and If Canada de-
claros against 1t we can still go on
doing business at the Old stand"
The President made no other ref
erenca TO reciprocity. His voice WAS
low and his tone showed his keen dis
appointment.
He left Kalamazoo at 1880 to-
might.
Word of the defeat of the recipro-
city issue was conveyed 10 the Presi-
dent through his own private dis
patches. Early in the evening. soon
after the Presidents arrival here.
news OF the probable Rejection OF re
eiproeity began to come in over the
telegraph wires The President had
given instructions that he he kept
posted on the returns as they came
In.
Defends His yetos-~-
AT Battle Creek President Taft de-
Nvered his speech in defense Of his
yetoes.
The President had 10 talk In a driz-
sling rain, and the crowd found no
way to keep from getting wet. But
the rain did not keep the throne from
staying until the President had ut
tered his last word. 1t wanted to hear
all he had 70 say and what II thought
OF Mr.. Taft's exposition Of defense.
He said in part:
My Fellow Citizens: am going to
'tSli sod IA as sstnpie Il way As 1 can
why / vetoed the three tariff bills
which Congress submitted to me for
signature at the close OF this extra
session. | called the session to se-
cure the enactment In law Of the
Canadian reciprocity treaty This
was done on July %. Thereafter the
WOOL bill, the free-llst bill and the
cotton bin were presented TO me for
signature. and l returned them with
out my approval. and explained my
reasons for SO doing in a special mes
sage on each bill.
Al the extra session Of 1909, Con-
gress had given me 1900. which
! could spend for this purpose: at
the regular session of the game Com
gress. the Stxty-hrst the appropria-
ton was enlarged to $4,000. TO cover
expenses down to July /, 1911 Mean
time the movement for permanent
tariff commission or board To effect
these general purposes acquired great
momentum. business associations
the country over united to form a
special sociery for the promotion OF
such legislation. and the campaign
for It was carried on with both houses
of Congress- / gave the project as
strong support as possible. and made
a number OF public addresses in sup
port of 1t, and sent q specific recon-
mendation of the plan in q congress
sional message The Republican con-
ventions Of twenty eight States adopt
ed resolutions strongly advocating
statutory tariff commission, and
deprecating any future revision until
needed evidence had been gathered
and impartial conclusions drawn as to
the facts upon which such revision
could be properly made.
Continues Tariff Board,
OF course with Republicans. In or
der to secure proper revision on
the basis TO which they were com
mitted, 1t was essential to know from
an unbiased source the difference be-
tween the costs of foreign and home
production, for this was the limit Of
protection which the moderate pro-
tectinnists among them and the last
party platform had set They did not
wish TO injure the important indus
tries OF the country by taking away
from them the measure of protection
needed to enable them to live against
foreign competition, but they did In
tend In the next revision not to give
them more than this.
OF course, the Democrats recog-
nized no such measure of protection
as just. but many of them contend
ed that such a commission was neces-
sary to secure the facts upon which
a proper tariff for revenue only could
be framed. The result was that by
Republican and Democratic votes, and
among the Republicans the so-called
progressive or insurgent Republicans
were the most earnest in its support,
a bill creating permanent tariff
board Of Ave, to be appointed by the
president. with power to summon
witnesses and secure their evidence
under oath. was passed by the House.
No moro than three mem bcrs OF
the same political party could be ap-
pointed a. members OF the board.
Upon tho failure Of tho bill for a.
statutory board. and in an earnest
effort to enable Consress 70 act with
accurate knowledge on Schedule X.
and, indeed. on Schedule lon cotton
manufactures issued an order to
the tariff board already appointed
to continue the necessary investixa-
tions OF these schedules and to rel
port upon the sazne on Decembsr /
(COntinuad~ on aocond pagNl