Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-21
The Senate "l3evoIt,"

|
| The Senate "i3ovoIt."
| 1t is a striking fact that a majority
| of the Republicans in Congress OPP
pose the sc-called reciprocity" agree
| ment, while a majority sof the Demo-
Gratis favor it. on Monday there was
| demonstration against the proposed
| treaty, in which the Re publicans in
the Senate showed that they had
| reached a state of open revolt. OPP
ponents of the agreement, led by Sen
ator Dixon of the boundary state of
Montana. declared that If the bill
were passed they would join the
Democrats in an effort to lower the
duties on all manufactured products.
Senator Dixon declared tina t the pro-
position aimed to pull the corner
stone from under the prote ctive tariff
system. He said it was proposed to
throw farmers products into free
market. while his purchases contin-
ued to be protected. and he threatened.
amid applause. that if such conditions
were brought about many good pro-
tectionists in the Republican ranks
will vote to have the duties pulled
down on iron and steel, chemicals,
cotton and other things.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts en-
tered the debate. Monday, and ex-
planned the relation of the pulp and
paper clause to the most favored ma
ton clause of our treaties with for
eign countries. providing the Root
amendment were not adopted. He
the clause made Il gratuitous conces-
sion to Canada. and this. he said,
brought it dangerously near coming
under the doctrine that such conces-
sions must be granted to other ma
| tions as to them. France. Germany
and other pations, he understood
| mission of their pulp and paper if
| this bill is passed as it stands
This very point has been raised by
| the Kennebec Journal repeatedly, and
| it has been shouted at and denounced
| by the pro-reciproeity press of Maine
| and Massachusetts. yet they cannot
| scen at the plain utterances of such
distinguished authority as Senator
| Lodge and Senator Root, who also
on Monday gave his views, when re-
| quested by a supporter of the meas
| ure. Senator Root had not expressed
| himself on this point previously. but
he admitted that the bill raised a
| favored nation clause. He declared.
| however, that he did not want to cut
| himself off from different view, on
more mature consideration. He said
| the moment the bill were signed,
| pulp and paper coming from unre-
| stricted lands in Canada would be ad-
mitted free. whether Canada took any
action or not
Replying to Senator Brown of Ne
braska. who declared for free pulp and
paper from all the world. Senator
| Lodge stated that in his opinion the
reciprocity BILL if passed. would have
little if any effect on the paper trade.
He said that whether the Root amend
ment were adopted or not he be-
lieved the Canadian provinces would
not remove the restriction. Leave
the Root amendment and keep the
restrictions on, and the agreement is
not worth the snap of your finger, "
said Senator Lodge.
Other senators agreed with Senators
Lodge and Root with respect to the
most favored nation clause. Senator
| Root declared that he would vote for
| the bill as, on the whole. a beneficial
measure; and Senator Lodge agreed
with him, while McCumber, OF North
Dakota. declared that he voted against
> the Root amendment that Maine and
New York might get dose of the
same injustice as was melted out to
the Northwestern states"
1t is a game of see-saw, with little
real benefit possible and great dea
of damage probable 1t is the cheap
est sort of pretense to claim that il
: is going to benefit anyone in this
country and not injure anybody else
I It puts the burden on one class tc
crafty another When it is figured
e down to bottom facts 1t is the big.
gest piece of political tomfoolery ever
L inflicted on America.
o A New Jersey idiot who rocked the
a boat for the sake of seeing the ter.