Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-18
TAFT ON HIS KNEES
BEES DEMOCRATS
FOR RECIPROCITY
Desperate Necessities Of Dis
credited Administration Send
the President to His Knees,
Declares Rep. kitchin
(By Assoeiated 2ress.l

WASHINGTON, April 15.-The opening
arguments for and against the Canadian
reciprocity bill were made in the house
today. in two striking speeches. Claud
Kitchin, of North Carolina, one Of the
leading Democratic speakers, addressed
the house for three hours in favor of
the measure, arraigning the Republican
argument of protection for the farmer
and characerizing 1t as "humbug."
Following him Asher Kinds, of Maine.
for 16 years the parliamentary clerk OF
the house, made his first speech as a
new member of that body and aligned
himself in opposition to the treaty in
an address devoted to the support of
protection for the farmers of the nation.
The reciprocity treaty he said, threat
ened national prosperity in threatening
to take away from the farming communi-
ties the protection to their products nee
essary to their continued prosperity and
development.
1t was a day full of interesting debate
and incident Mr.. Kitchin, skillful in
repartee, drew frequent interruption from
the Republican side and kept the house
in turmoil. He paced up and down the
main aisle of the house. arraigning the
leaders on the Republican side who
have fought for the protective principle,
paying particular attention to Representa-
President Taft as coming to the Demo-
Gratis on Bonded knees to solicit their
support.
DEMOCRATS CONTROL
The success of the presidents desire
for reciprocity with Canada depended up
on the Democrats, he said
"Oh, my friends said Mr.. Kitchin,
with eloquent gesture. how the vicissi-
tudes of American politics humiliate the
pride of even a president. We were i'm
possible obstructionists, and we utterly
failed in anything that was sensible. and
yet before that libel upon a great poll
teal organization is cold upon his lips,
the desperate necessities Of a discredit-
ed administration send this president on
Bonded knees. begging before this Demo-
cratic majority"
Interruptions from Insurgent RepubIi-
can members injected much interesting
debate into the Kitchin speech. He was
asked If he would vote for free lumber,
free sugar, less protection on cotton
goods, and like reductions of the tariff.
81 will vote for free lumber" said Mr..
LaFollette, of Wisconsin, whom Mr..
Kitchin had charged with representing
the lumber interests, "if you will vote
for free sugar"
VOTE FOR FREE LIST
"All right" said Mr.. kitchin, I'll vote
for both of them"
"will you vote to put all trust-control-
led articles on the free list?" demanded
Mr.. Lenroot, of wisconsin.
yes" said Mr.. Kitchin, and within
four or five days we viii bring in a
free list bin that will give you all that
opportunity"
Mr.. Kitchin expressed pleasure at see
ing the insurgents dancing around the
fires with the distinguished stapd-patters
of protection, singing hosannahs and
hallelujahs to the farmer.
The speech by Asher Kinds showed
deep research and a grasp of the history
of American legislation.
When the manufacturer falls" said
Mr.. Kinds, everyone knows it; smoke
ceases in the tall chimneys, But when
the farmer fails, smoke does not cease,
because on the hearth below burns the
only stalwart fire of the race"