Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-01
Taft PhiIosophicaIIy Awaiting
the Course of Events.
HIS PROGRAM is SETTLED
Only a Straight Vote on Reciprocity
Will Avert Extra Session.
TURNS TO OTHER TOPICS
Senators Assure Him That the Pros
poets for Completing Busi-
ness Are Better.

"Let 'em sizzle awhile. I'm through
stewing."
President Taft was credited with this
remark today when some of his visitors
asked him about the situation In the
Senate as to reciprocity.
And the President acted the part all day
in conversation with those who brought
up the subject. He had worked for days,
exhausting his nervous energies. to force
vote on the one great question which
he is confident the American people are
most profoundly interested in.
He feels that sentiment in every dlrec-
tion has been brought to point to COM
pei some other people to walk the hoor'
while he can sit back and take 1t easy
just watch the writhing of the other
man. And seeing the other fellow wrlg-
gle is not ALL Having played his card,
the President is philosophically awaiting
the outcome. Today he turned his at
tention almost exclusively to other mat
ters pending in Congress and chopped of
reciprocity conversation.
Will Not Accept "Fake" Vote.
Again the President announced that
nothing but a straight, square vote on
reciprocity will stop his calling an ex-
ira session Nothing of a fake nature
will suit him. He protested vigorously
the other day when it was suggested to
him that there were five or six demo-
Gratis favorable to reciprocity who were
so willing to avoid an extra session they
would vote against the bill II it was sub
mitted to a vote, merely to get the thing
out of the way. The President has deter
win nA1 hot WI +.
isfy him.
Even today rumOrS were going the
rounds that a "frame-up'' is being sought
by which reciprocity will be brought to
vote at the last minute and killed by
certain democratic senators little con-
cerned as to it's fate and more eager to
escape an extra session than careful OF
how they record themselves.
The President, it is said, knows the at
titude of every man in the Senate and he
would scan a vote most carefully to de-
termine whether there had been u
''frame-up." II he concluded that this
was so he would call an extra session
just the same. In fact, he has about
reached the point where he Is determined
to call an extra session regardless Of a
vote unless it is favorable, fearing that
there may be a political deal in the SEN
ate.
of his remarks to callers, that he sus-
poets the possibility of a little deal to
defeat reciprocity in the last few min
utes, in which event an extra session Is
an absolute certainty.
Senate Outlook Better.
In spite of the unconcern of the Pres
ident about the doings Of the Senate
on reciprocity, senatorial callers took
a more hopeful view Of the probabili-
ties. With one exception-Senator
Flint of California-they all said the
outlook for putting everything through
at this session was decidedly better.
Senator Root. the first caller. said that
although nothing had been settled, the
situation really looked better.
Senators Taylor and Overman felt the
same way. So did Vice President Sher-
man. although the latter Is still con-
fident that an extra session Is almost
unavoidable.
The two stumbling blocks to reel
procity now are said to be Senator
Hale of Maine and Senator Nelson OF
Minnesota. The former has announced
with great solemnity in the Senate that
the big appropriation bills are chocll
full of important new legislation, de-
serving the greatest attention and con-
Sideration.
Just how many other senators ARE
going to find much reason for serious
debate on the appropria ton bills re-
to be assured that his view of the
unusual Importance of the appropria-
tiOn bills is shared by many others
Question Must Be Met.
But what il we do put the appropria-
ton bills through and then do not escape
an extra session." one senator almost
pleaded today. lie was assured from high
quarters that he would have to face the
| same question a few weeks later, and
that the only escape now was to aid In
taking the Senate situation by the neck
and disposing of it, even to swallowing
reciprocity.
If Senator Nelson is to fllibuster in the
last hours no one now knows. but there
were those today who said that If the
Minnesota senator came to a realizati iOn
| that he would have to vote on reciprocity
later he would do SO this week, after ex-
pressing his views In speech.