Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-17
Now Organized Labor Presents
An unyieIdlng Front.
Senators Who Intended 10
Vote for Treaty Are Worried.


Washington, d. c., May t6.-(Spe-
ciaD-Opposition to Canadian reel
procity' is becoming more formidable.
The farmer element, whose leaders
kept coming to the city in successive
contingents all the week. made an i'm
preston upon the members of the
Senate finance committee. The IAN
guage Of these farmer witnesses was
very determined and they threatened
political vengeance in no uncertain
terms. 1t worried those Republican
senator's, who have been intending to
vote for reciprocity. But in the
wake of the rural testimony has come
the organized labor witnesses. who de-
nounce the Canadian pact as men
ace to organized labor. They tell the
committee that 1t puts laboring men,
now accustomed to hours day. in
competition with Canadians, who work
10 and II hours a day in numerous
trades.
When these labor representatives
began to come on" and uttered pro-
tests just as vigorous as the farmers
had uttered even such reciprocity ad-
vocates as Senator Lodge of Massa-
ehusetts who is a member of the
: finance committee. seemed to wayer.
The Bay state, leader in manufae-
turing. was not much disturbed as
long as only the farmers were COM
planning. but organized labor is very
strong there. The Republicans of
Massachusetts are not oyer-anxious to
offend organized labor further.
Some argue that situation is being
shrewdly framed up by which the Sem
ate will not vote for Canadian reel
procity and that the extra session will
turn out to be a rank failure. There
is a possibility of this being done
through an amendment to the Cana
dian pact, by which the farmers free
list. recently enacted by the House,
will be taken along. Enough insur-
gents are ready to vote for it, The
question is whether the Democratic
senators will cooperate. But the
reciprocity bill thus amended would
probably be weaker than as single
proposition and 1t is so weak any way
that in combination with the free list
II might fail.
Maine Democrats See Trouble.
The week Just passed has brought
numerous Maine people down to the
Federal capital. They have been
Democrats and Republicans hut in the
former category have been Mayor w.
r. Pattangall of Waterville, and Mayor
Mullen of Bangor. The Democratic
senator and the Democratic represen-
tatives took them especially in tow,
but Mayor Mullen tarried very briefly
and FASTENED back to Bangor as soon
he III nj ial,
was to urge upon the House public
buildings committee the enactment at
the extra session of a 100000 appro-
priation for Bangor.
Mayor "Patt" discussed the Maine
situation anew with his Democratic
brethren. although Senator Johnson
has only recently been in Maine. They
see their troubles ahead with the de-
velopment of the reciprocity situation,
but are planning to try to throw the
responsibility therefor off upon the
Republicans. 1t is said they expect
to add fuel to the fires of protest
among the Republicans up in the po-
tato growing country, while down in
Portland and wherever reciprocity has
friends the Democrats will claim the
credit for the reciprocity enactment.
The House is not in session often
these days and accordingly none of
the Maine brethren in its membership
are overrushed with work Repre-
sentative Gould is giving attention to
repairs upon residence into which he
expects to move shortly. This will
break up the Maine circle at the Con-
gress Hall hotel. near the Capitol
where the three Maine Democrats have
lived over since they came to Wash
ington.
Will They Vote for Free Wool?
The Maine Democrats are being
.whisked along with the Democratic
free wool propaganda which has seized
upon the House majority. Both Gould
and McGillicuddy are holding back but
the Boston Democrats claim they car
vote both the Maine representatives
for the free wool proposition. Whetk-
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