The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-06-27
WAR TO THE END
President Taft Milking a Great Effort to
Rash Reciprocity through.
WILL BE A HARD FIGHT

Republicans Consider q Bolt, and
Some of Them Contemplate a Re.
buke to the President and an Ap.
peal to the Country to Support
Them in their Acts.
The Washington correspondent
of The State says any one who will
watch conditions as they exist At the
White House and in the house and
senate at the present time, and who
will watch the wire pulling that is
going on by President Taft to get the
reciprocity bill through, realize that
it is fight to the finish. There is
no use denying the fact that IL re.
procity fails it will be useless fol-
iMr. Taft to try for reorganization. In
fact, in such contingency, it looks
like sure thing for the Democrats.
To administer direct reuke to the
president and then appeal to the
country is the course which many
senate leaders are seriously consid-
ergn. They are not all of any one
faction either.
Democrats in general want Taft
renominated, because they feel conf
dent that they can defeat him. Re-
publicans, orthodox and heterodoX
alike, are wondering if there is a
chance to break the rule of a century
and quarter that president can re-
nominate himself when he chooses.
There has been no exception to the
rule.
Report is that eight Democrats are
now about to determine to vote
against reciprocity. If this be ac-
curate reciprocity is defeated.
Taking both parties, there are prob
ably not half a score of men in the
entire senate who sincerely want to
see reciprocity win. Most Of the
Democrats and some Of the Republi-
cans will vote for 1T; but in private
conversations they agree among
themselves that they don't like 1t.
And in the long run the senate
isn't much given to doing the thing it
doesn't like to do.
To defeat reciprocity will necessi-
tate on behalf Of those Republicans
who vote against it most complete
and detailed explanations to consti-
tuents. Wherefore the senate is tom
ing up in preparation for regular
oratorical tourney.
Not less than thirty Republican
senators are loading up for great
speeches in opposition to the presi-
dents measure. Senator Nelson OF
Minnesota is a good illustration. He
is going to take a special committee
to study Alaska this summer or au-
tumn-provided first he sees the fin
ish of the reciprocity discussion.
Nothing on earth will get him away
from Washington till he has unload
ed the big speech he is preparing and
given his vote against the pact. 1t
is expected that he will have two or
three days talks to unload, for he is
workink night and day on the effort,
collecting statistics, studying indus
trial conditions, putting the agree
ment itself under the miscrope.
What Nelson does will be Of piece
with the performances of many 9th
ers. Senator Cuttings is at work on a
speech that will require days to de-
liver. Clapp, La Toilette, BristoW
and others are similarly preparing
themselves, as are many Of the regu-
lars.
Six weeks of talk is the minimum
estimate: it may go to eight or ten
weeks. Almost all of the Republicans
are going to make speeches for home
consumption. There will be some
specially bitter attacks on the presi-
dent. He will be charged with per-
verting the maximum asd minimum
provision Of the tariff act of 1909
when he issued the proclamation Civ
ing Canada the benefit ce the mini.
mum duties. Under careful analysis
it will be shown that in fact Canada
preferential treatment Of British
goods made it utterly impossible to
give Canada the minimum rates. The
president faced the necessity of either
imposing the maximum rates or else
abrogating the law. He choose the
later course.
The politics Of the situation lies
largely in the fact that the opponents
of the treaty are going to do about
all the talking, and that they are go.
ing to do it with the definite purpose
OF breaking down whatever strength
tie measure has with the country
Thus far the opposition has been re-
serving it's fire. 1t realizes that while
j.. was doing this. the protagonists OF
reciprocity have made headway with
lub!ic opinion. Leading progressive
newspapers all over tho Middle West
have committed themselves to the
r:easure; and in their detection Is &
serious thing to the progressive Re.
publicans who have enjoyed vast adj
vantages in the past by reason oi
magazine support.
So the Republicans who will talk