The Washington times., 1911-03-06
Republican Leaders Make
Dismal Prophecies of Out
come In 1912.
PRESIDENT BELIEVES
COUNTRY APPROVES
Friendly kilograms Cause Him to
Stand By Attitude on
Reciprocity.

It is not easy to overstate the bitter
ness and chagrin stirred up against
President Taft by the regular RepuD-
ncan leaders at the Capitol on account
of his course in calling an extra ses-
sion.
In the remarkable series Of stirring
events Of the last few days OF the
Congress, a good deal of what was
passing between the leaders on the Re
publican side in House and Senate and
the President was lost sight of. AS
matter of fact, it is doubtful If any
President in a generation has been put
under more severe pressure from the
leaders of the party. de was urged IN
every possible way. not to call an extra
session.
The President has been told by some
of the leaders not only that the calling
of an extra session will be ruinous to
the party, but that it will be disastrous
to him politically. He has been told IT
will hopelessly split the Republicans and
that he will be beaten badly at the polls
II he runs for President in 1912.
Farmers Reported Hostile.
He has been told that the farmers in
the border States will turn en- masse
against the Republican party on ac-
count of reciprocity and against him
self. He has been told that many of
excited. He has been told that New
York State farmers will go over to the
Democrats and thus throw the State
headlong into the Democratic ranks in
1912. He has been told that the Demo-
Gratis will enter into prolonged and gen.
eral revision of the tariff and keep the
country stirred up, with loss to business
interests.
AS a matter of fact, It is not easy
TO set forth all Of the strenuous pre-
dictions of calamity to himself and his
party that have been made to the
President The leaders have told him
about everything they could think of
in order to pull him off and get him to
back down. Through 1t all, the Presi-
dent has insisted that he would call
the extra session, and that he was con-
WINGED reciprocity would work to the
great advantage of the country. He
has showed scarcely sign at any time
for weeks Of weakening dn his purpose
20 call an extra session If reciprocity
should fail.
Believes Country Approves.
The President has received so many
letters and kilograms expressing op-
proval Of his reciprocity program that
he is fully convinced he has taken the
course the country wants him to. More
over, he has been pleased over the gen.
eral approval of his Course as indt-
Gated by the newspapers. The Presl-1
dent has been so used to floods of
criticism that he was hardly prepared
for the widespread expressions in the
newspapers approving reciprocity and
his determination to force action on 1t
ITrder such circumstances the Presi-
dent has been unmoved by the thou
sands Of letters and kilograms of pro-
test which were rained on the White
House in the effort to get the extra
session headed OF.
Dismal Prophecies Made.
Not merely have the leaders used ev-
cry effort to dissuade the President
from calling an extra session. but now
that it is called and now that the atti-
tude ct the Pres dent shows he Is going
TO stand bv reciprocity 10 the uttermost,
bitter expressions Of criticism can be
heard in Republican quarters. The most
dismal prophecies are heard. 1t is pre-
dictcd the Republicans will get hope
lessly beaten in the next election. and
that Congress will be made Democratic
in both houses. Some of the regular
Republicans openly say Taft can't come
back after his present term, because of
his course on reciprocity and the extra
session.
The President went into the reciproc-
ity negotiations in the first place with
out consulting the Republican leaders in
Congress. His whole course in this mat
ter has been one Of defiance and disre
gard of the leaders. Now they are ask
Ing TO what extent he is going to disre-
gard them in other matters.