The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-27
TUESDAY. JUNE 81. 1911.
THE ROOT AMENDMENT KlLLEp.

N
Last night>the Senate rejected with
out roll cali the Root amendment
to the wood pulp and print paper
schedule of the Canadian reciprocity
bill If the senior Senator from New
York were not SO resourceful. II he had
not more than once In his brilliant
and useful career proved his respect
for the doctrine that there are more
Ing 1t with butter, we should say that
the defeat of his amendment removed
the greatest obstacle 10 the passage of
the bill. Which Is TO say that we al
ways feel deucediy sight safer when
.EIihu Root is around II we know to a
certainty that he is wholly committed
TO the right side which Is invaria bly,
our side In the present case, also the
side of the Republican Administration,
thanks to the Democrats in the House
and Senate -
Last week Mr.. Root made striking
reciprocity measure He did not touch
on the wood pulp question except in
the most perfunctory manner, but adj
yocated the adoption OF the Canadian
treaty explaining that in making this
agreement with Canada. TO be effective
only after II had been approved by
Congress. tho President hud followed a
course within his power, altogether in
keeping with the precedents. and in
no sense lacking in any of the pro-
prieties. He declared himself for the
agreement, the whole agreement. and
nothing but the agreement" and. In
spite OF the clouds Of dust that have
been raised by the Insurrectos, II has
seemed all along that the President
was fairly confident of the passage OF
the bill The threats of some of the
Democrats TO load the bill with tariff
amendments with the expectation that
Mr. Taft would veto the measure as
presented in that shape thus making
an issue for the Presidential cam
paign, could not be excused to the
country, and so we hope that all tho
Democrats in the Senate Will vote for
reciprocity as all the Democrats In
the House. who are really worth their
salt, voted for II when II was con
sdered in that body.
The most Significant thing In SEN
Rtor Roots speech last week was what
he said about the protective system In
reply 20 the declaration of the North
western Republicans. that the passage
of the reciprocity bill would be follow
ed by a general onslaught on this sys-
tenn. It was then that MIR. Root rose
protective system is not for the good
of the people but works solely for the
benefit of "the interests," MIR. Root
would abandon his belief in protection.
If 1t could ne proved to him that it
did not work for the general good.
interests, he would give up his be-
lief in the benefcence of the protective
system. We are glad that the Job
OF convincing MIR. Root against his
Judgment upon these points has not
been assigned 10 us. for. convinced
the same opinion still. 1t must be said.
however. that his admission in gem
eral that the farmers have not got any
direct benefit from the duties levied
on farm products. and his carefully
guarded suggestion that after all it
a;ert, 50 p,t
= System was not all that had been
claimed for It, and that he would sup
port the bill placing the United States
in closer commercial touch with Can
sda. must indeed have been amazing
ITO the thick-and- thin advocates or the
system.
We have not the least doubt that
the passage of the reciprocity bill will
be followed by general onslaught on
the protective system, an onslaught
that will be made whether the rcclproc
ity bill shall pass or not. Nobody has
been deceived by the efforts of the So
called Progressives in the Senate ;o
make II appear that they favor such
q revision of the tariff as the Demo.
Gratis propose 10 make--their purpose
has been only TO einbarrass the Admin
istration by causing the defeat Of Inc
reciprocity bin. We would not trus,
them in any suggestions they nigh,
make on this line; bu, we place
a great deal OF confidence In The yer,
frank statement made By Air raft i1
speech AT PrnyIdcrce phaA ,, {,