The Washington times., 1911-08-24
TARIFF MANEUVER
HELPFUL TO TAFT
AT NEXT SESSION
Expected He Will Be Able
To Put Democrats In
I Hole. ,"
Rv IOHN SNuRE-

That President Taft has so maneuv-
cred the tariff revision situation that
he stands in is excellent strategic posi-
ton with respect to 1t, g the opinion
frankly expressed even by some of the
T'en In Congress, who have no love for
lin.
He is now in a situation where, If he
an get the tariff legislation he will
tsk for at the next session, he will be
able to enter the 1912 campaign with
credit for having effected important
tariff reductions
OF course, he may not be able to get
anything. He may fall down complete
ly in carrying through his tariff pro-
gram. In that case, IT is easy to See
he will be in hot water.
The Demand for Revision.
Undoubtedly. there is strong demand
among the consuming public for
the reduction of duties, especially on
those schedules that come close to every
family. The President has vetoed bills
for reductions in the wool schedule and
the schedule relating to manufactures
OF cotton. He will be sharply criti
cised, is being criticised already, by
large numbers Of those who want du-
ties reduced on the things that every
a.
bring about genuine downward revision
Of these and other schedules next WIN
ter, even of these two schedules alone,
be and his friends will be able to claim
I q large measure Of credit, and they will
undoubtedly get it.
1t is entirely clear that the President
has alienated some OF the farmers by
support of reciprocity, and that he has
/ gained support of many people who
live in towns and cities. On the other
hxy ha nd ba
cotton bill, he has failed to give re-
lief to farmers and has turned against
himself many of the ultimate con-
sumers of the city who saw in reci-
procity a step toward lower prices,
Many Farmers Are Hostile.
The case stands. therefore, with
many Of the farmers alienated from
the President and with many ultimate
consumers in the cities who wanted
downward revision OF certain schedules,
chilled in that ardor they first felt
toward the Chief Executive. But the
President is not through with the
tariff.
He has the tariff board reports COM
ing. 1t is widely talked they will JUS
tity low duties on wool and woolenS
and on manufactures of cotton. He
will strongly urge revision on the lines
Of the tariff board reports. The Ques-
ton is whether the Democrats will try
to bak 1t, and, If they do, they will
suffer at the polls for it At least,
this is the view widely entertained
among the friends of the President and
TO a considerable extent among those
who are not friendly to him.
1t Will be q singular spectacle II the
coming winter, on the eve OF PreSi-
Dental campaign, there is presented the
scene of President Taft setting before
q Democratic House and a Senate in
control of insurgents and Democrats,
q tariff program which they will have
to carry out. This is what the men who
are counseing with the President about
the campaign hope will result.
Dangers Awaiting Taft.
Such a result would obviously be to
the great political advantage Of the Ad-
ministration. on the other hand, there
are dangers In the situation for the
President. Things may be so maneu-
vered thai the Taft tariff program will
fail and the Democrats escape respon-
sibility fo- II in the eyes of the coun-
try. The tariff board reports may be In
favor of duties so high that the House
Democrats will find Justification in re-
jecting them. Or the Republican regu'
lars in the Senate may be the chief in
strument in defeating revision.
The next session is likely to make
or break the President" Is an express
sion much heard about the Capitol in
the closing days of Congress. And when
the tariff situation is considered and
the inevitable recurrence Of a big tariff
battle next winter, it is not hard to
perceive the reasons for the statement