Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-27
And Opposition To Measure Is
Daily Increasing.
Senator Johnson Now Looked
10 as The Democratic Moses.
Expected TO Answer Kinds Address,
in His Maiden Effort.


Washington, d. G, May 26.-fSpe-
ciaD.-The judgment of tie Maine Re
publicans in tie last Congress against
Canadian so-called reciprocity is be-
Ing constantly indicated by events
here at the Capital. No representa-
tives stood out more uncompromisingly
against the bill than did the Maine
delegation. headed by Coy l.. c. Bur
leigh. No other Republican delegation
of its size vent on record soiidIy
against the pact
But ever since then the aeeessions
To the ranks of opposition have been
growing. To be sure the bill passed
the Democratic House in this Con-
gress, but it is now having a hard
time before the Senate and the prob
abilities increase that. because Of Re
publican condemnation of that Kind
of legislation. it will not become law.
1t is little too early yet to speak
with any certainty on that point. but
Indications are that way
1t las developed that there is very
strong Republican sentiment at the
north end of the Capitol for loading the
bill down with amendments RepabIi-
can senator's from all along the bor-
der want To change the terms of the
agreement so as to give their cnnsti-
tuents more Of an even show in the
trade with the Canadians But there
is no Disgusting the prospects that tie
loading Of the bill with amendments
viii kill it. The Massachusetts fisher
men want an amendment 50 tEat the
fisheries clause in the agreement Will
not be operative till Canada stops
paying hounties To her fishermen and
Senator Lodge is trying to get il put
upon the bill. Senator Nelson, 90
Minnesota. has numerous amendments
which he will try to get adopted. Sen
ator Root has am amendment for the
protection of the paper and pulp mills,
and that would help the paper and
pulp industry i'll Maine as we'll as in
New York So it goes and the fikeli-
hood is that all these Republican IN
terests. asking for amendments. will
work together and be able TO make
very strong showing, especially as the
Insurgent Republicans Will largely
vote for material changes in the agree
ment.
The hearings before the finance COM
mittee viii probably end soon. Sen
ator johnson. of Maine. as member
of finance. has taken no active part
during the hearings and has hardly
asked single question of the Wit
nesses. As new senator he feels
some modesty about pushing To the
front. Then, of course, he is somewhat
embarrassed by the determined demon
stration among the Maine farmers in
opposition to reciprocity. although
he announced some time go that he
would vote for it. Probably he Will
deliver a speech ON the subject when
the bill gets into the Senate As a
member of the finance committee, IT
Will be rather eneumbent upon him to
have something to say.
Furthermore the Democratic leaders
put senator Johnson upon the finance
committee with view to his becoming
the big Democratic spokesman in New
England ON Democratic issues they
will expect him to outline the issue
in big speech, which printed III TIVE
Congressional Record. can be circulate
ed among the voters not only in Maine
but also III other PARTS of New Eng
land during the next year and a half.
Then again. somebody must meet the
reciprocity issue as set forth by Rep
resentatiye Asher c. Kinds Of tie
Portland district That speech stands
thus far unanswered. Representative