The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-08-15
m DEFENCE OF INSURGENTS
a. MWiNS PPORTS THEN ON
TARIFE REI ISION.
senator says That Canadian Reciprocity
lIas ShanGed the situation. - n
S!Nes the Farmer Free Trade Whiie
the Manuf acturer Has Protection.

| y
! Gives the Farmer Free Trade Whiis
! tho Manufacturer IIas Protection
| wAsHrSoroN. Aug. n.-Senator Cum
minis of Iowa in a speech before the
Senate to-day in support Of his proposed
anne ndments to the cotton bill disclosed
the defence which the Republican insur-
gents will make to this action in advo-
eating a general revision of the tarif in
anticipation Of a report from the Tariff
Board. Mr. Cummins said he telt COM
pelled To explain his attitude because
Of the "perversions and misrepresenta-
tions" that had been sent broadcast from
Washington as to the alleged inconsist-
ency OF the insurgents in advocating the
creation Of a tariff commission and then
demanding a revision of the tarif sched-
ules in advance Of the commissions re-
port.
The Senator explained that the passage
OF the Canadian reciprocity bill had
changed the situation entirely. The
farmers of the country. he declared, had
been put on free trade basis as 10 their
products without the aid Of report from
the Tariff Board OF course the Senator
tue ldCt tHdb J-TeHlueut ldIt
had the advice and assistance Of the
Tariff Board in the Canadian reciprocity
and that Senator Cummins's resolution
calling for certain information in posses
sion of the Tariff Board as a basis for some
of the amendments he proposed to the
Canadian reciprocity bill was evidence In
itself that the Tariff Board had given
advice and assistance on the Canadian
reciprocity matter. But the Senator
from Iowa proceeded on the theory that
the Canadian reciprocity bill was drawn
without any reference y the Tariff Board.
As much as | value the work OF an in
dependent tariff commission. clothed with
independent powers. I will not wait for
the creation Of the commission and then
for the work OF the commission before
giving the farmer a relief he needs i'm
mediately in view of the Canadian reci-
procity bill. Whatever may have been
our hope year ago as TO the manner Of
dealing with this tariff matter the passa &c
Of the Canadian reciprocity bill has given
II entirely a new aspect"
Several Senators seemed to take this
explanation as more or less Of joke. in-
as,nuch as there ia no chance Of Canada
and the Tariff Board will be ready with
its report on wool and probably on some
other schedules about a month later.
The Senator then entered upon a dis
cussion as to whether the Canadian reci-
procity bill was a Republican policy.
The manner of its passage does not
establish its Republican character" said
the Senator. Although Republican
President suggested il the bill failed to
command majority Of Republicans in
either house of Congress. The question
for us to determine now is whether the
Canadian reciprocity bill in the form in
which il was passed is in accordance with
Republican policy. There must be a
referendum. Is the Republican party in
favor Of protection to the manufacturer
and free trade for the farmer? That is
the question that mus, he determined at
the first opportunity. That question must
he settled in selecting the delegates to
the next Republican national convention
The issue cannot be avoided and no true
Republican will seek TO avoid il. The
next six months should put the question
to test"
Senator Cummins pictured the COM
mittce on resolutions in the next Re-
publican national convention. He re-
ferred to the personnel Of the committee
in which he included the scholarly Lodge, ="
the able Senator Root and the "dis'in-
guished chairman of the Fina nee tom-
mittee. MIR Penrose." drawing up n
platform and going before the country
| with the slogan Protection to the manu-
facturer. free trade for the farmer -
The prosperous farmer shall go upon
a free trade basis. but the struggling
tottering manufacturer must have pro-
lection" said he. -ln other words free
trade for Minnesota, Dakota and Idaho
and more protection for Massac chusetts.
Pennsylvania and New York"
At times the Senator from Iowa showed
the effects Of the heat and the long ses
sion. He displayed his temper in re-
plying to a question Of Senator Overman
and charged that Senator with making
an unkind insinuaton. Mr.. Overman
tried to explain and suggested that he
had right 10 draw any Inference from
Senator Cumminss speech that he liked
Therenpon Mr. Cummins replied:
And | have the right to chara racterize
the inference in the way ] think it de-
serves"
At another time. when Senator Oliver
Of Pennsylvania in the course Of a col
! loquy with Mr., Cummins drew from
the Iowa Senator the admission tina
he favored free pig iron and then remarke,
that he was glad the Senator from
Iowa had come in the open for free pig
iron. Mr.. Cummins sharply rebuked him
and declined to yield further to him.
Il have become used to being inslllted
by the Senator from Pennsylvania and
men who believe as he does said Mr..
Cummins.
The Senator from Iowa seemed par
ticularly nettled over the suggestion
that he had been inconsistent. He denied
the charge. He directed his sarcasm a,
. Senator Overman because the North
Carolina Senator wanted to have read a,
the desk n speech Mr., Cummins made in
1904 in reply to Speaker Cannon, which
had been read by Senator Williams oi
Mississippi several days ago and in which
Senator Cummins declared in favor of
Canadian reciprocity. The Senator from
Iowa declared that there was nothing
inconsistent between his utterances ir
that speech and the stand he is now tax.
ing in Congress. He referred to thu
Canadian reciprocity bill as "a miserable
makeshift and not the real article ol
Canadian reciprocity"
He even charged that Senator Over.
man had been guilty of had faith because