Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-28
PARTY LINES WIPED OUT
Divisions in Congress Determined by
Local Interests.
HARD TO FoRTELL OUTCOME
Belief Today Is That Action at Pres
ent Session Is Unlikely-Country
Not Heard From.


will decide in committee upon the fate
Of the Canadian tariff arrangement the
impression that an extra session of Con-
gr-ess is not beyond the range of possi-
bility.
II was said that the President is very
much in earnest in advocacy of the ratiti-
cation of the agreement and that if the
republicans who now dominate both
branches of Congress do not see fit TO
respond to public demand for the trade
concessions he will not be averse to en-
listing the aid of democratic House of
the next Congress.
1t was said the President feels that
the Canadian arrangement is not a party
question and he will not draw strict party
lines.
Might Get Wool Report.
II there should he an extra session the
President might even go to the length of
furnishing the democrats the information
gathered by the tariff board on the woolen
schedule, it was said, so that relief could
be afforded the consumers upon the
article of clothing as we'll as food
products.
President Taft, it is understood. is COM
placent.
The attitude OF the President. it is said.
is that he is satisfied with having done
his share toward the solution of the
vexatious trade problems between this
country and the Dominion. He is now
awaiting action by Congress and will
abide by the decision of the legislators.
At the same time the Executive is
optimistic for the prompt ratification OF
the proposed treaty.
Town Against the Farm.
The town against the farm-the wage
Garner against the producer.
This. in the last analysis, seems to be
the prospective lineup i'm Congress on the
administration Canadian trade agree
ment. II is shown in the preliminary eX-
pressions of advocacy of and opposition to
tho proposed reciprocity pact. The divi-
sion appears in state delegations and be-
tween men of the same party.
Up to this time it has not resolved it,
self into a strict party question. since
democrats and republicans are found on
both sides OF the proposition. These are
only outcropping Indications. however.
The country is yet to be heard from and
many statesmen are in the attitude of
laying listening ear close to the ground.
Little Time for Action.
The indications today are that the time
intervening before the close of this ses-
a decision upon so vital question of
political economy as the Canadian agree
ment presents and there is no practical
basis for the optimistic belief that Con-
gress will ratify before March 4.
Neither is it the best judgment among
statesmen on Capitol Hill that the Presi-
dent will find it expedent to call an extra
session OF Congress to take up the treaty.
since such acton would open the whole
tariff question. 1t is not desired by either
democrats or republicans.
There * a deep feeling of resentment
among both stanGpatters and progressives
In the republican party over what they
term the bad teamwork OF the aunlnlS-
tration i'm framing up this trade arrange
ment They charge that the President
and the Secretary of State did not freely
consult the legislative branch in this
work. essentially within the province OF
the arm of the government constitution
ally vested with the revenue-raising
power. However. that is only one feature
of the situation and not vitally inn
portant.
Arouses Local Tariff Issues.
The first effect OF the Presidents recon-
mendation To Congress Is to arouse the
latent local and selfish spirit of the sec
tions over the tariff question. 1t is al
ways the case with every proposition to
change the tariff. In this instance, how
ever. the cleavage is sharper, since 1t is
not between section and section. or even
between state and state, but between
classes of the population.
The class that produces the foodstuffs
wants the high protection continued. tie
class that consumes them demands relief
through competition of Canadian prod
,rcts This is shown very clearly in the
expressions of representatives and sena-
al, 4f,,,x ~
their respective constituencies.
The standpat element is still in control
OF both branches of Congress. and Will be
until noon. March T. III all the progressive
republicans and all the democrats IN the
House should join forces they could com
mand a majority for the treaty. But there
are divisions of opinion among them
which threaten TO preclude hope OF al
effective combination.
IL the vote had to be taken in Congress
on the treaty today the result woulC
show that the tariff had been taken ou
of politics. and had become an economic
and sectional question. The two partie:
would be split and two factions or eacf
party would be demonstrated.
Where Treaty's Fate Rests.
The fate OF the treaty depends. it il
explained, upon whether the majority il
Congress can be brought to accept tn
broad views advanced by the President IL
his seeking for the general good at tn
sacrifice OF local interests or whether tn
spirit fostercd by sixteen years OF con
tinued high protection to those interest
will prevail.
The progressive republicans find them
selves in the mos embarrassing position
Representing. majority of them do
sections of the country where the agricul
tural industry thrives. the industry hi
the hardest by the treaty. they are con
fronted by the claims of the farmers TO
protection and their own record upon de
mand for lower duties on other necessarie
Of life.
The progressives. ii is thought. will tax
refuge in the consistent plea that ther
has been no complaint that the protection
afforded the farmer is too high but tina
all the evidence produced shows that tn
protection given the wooden. cotton hard
ware and other manufactures IS too high
They will contend. il is SAID that thi
treaty does not strike at the root of tn
evil complained of, and that they are nc
compelled to advocate 1t I'm order to sus
tain a consistent attitude.
And yet some of them are disposed
advocate IL on the broad and geners
principles advanced by President Taft I
his reasoning In behalf Of the arrange
ment. Those who feel this way say the
would thereafter have all the more rea
son for demanding concessions on manu-
featured articles.