Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-16
CANADA AND EEGLAN
Author Of Words Most Sd z
All by Reception.
TATT wRITEs no MR.
President Disolaims with Empl
Intention to Unite Countries.
HUMOROUS FEATURE OVERLOOKED
EnElish and Canadian Newspaper
Correspondents send "skeIeton-
iEedr Reports and Put Undue
Emphasis on Remarks.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 15.-The semi
jocular remarks which Champ Clark, the
democratic speaker-to-be made in the
house yesterday in the debate on the
Canadian reciprocity agreement that he
believed the stars and stripes would one
day float over the entire western hemis-
phore, stirred up most unexpected trouble
today. President Taft took occasion to
write 70 Representative Mccall introSucer
~ the reciprocity bill dsclaiming and
deprecstIng the annexation talk and to
follow II up with personal remarks even
more emphatic to his visitors
The news that Mr.. Clarks illusions had
created excitement IN Canada and in Eng
land Occssioned great surprise and consid-
cradle amusement at the capitol The
man most surprised Of all was Mr. Clark
himself.
Mr. Clsrks entire speech on reciprocity
Yesterday was delivered in half-humor-
Gus. half-tauntng vein The house was
In gale Of laughter most of the time.
In return for the laughs he was creating
at their expense, some OF the republicans
tried 10 turn the tables on Mr.. Clark by
chding him with the fact that he might
have President Taft as an opponent for
the democratic nomination.
HcmHFkn OF serious
This humorous exchange reflected the
spirit OF the debate during the time MFR.
Clark was on his feet and one gave
serious consideration to his remarks re-
Ksrdng the possible annexation OF Canada.
They regarded his statements in the nature
OF a complaint 70 the Canadian people. in
that he would be glad to see the friendship
that exists at present between the Cam
adams and the United States so ripen In the
future that an might some day be under
one flag There was q further touch of
facetiousness 20 the debate when one of
the republicans asked MIR. Clark II he would
like to be the first president Of the mag
nificent union he was creating. and he
replied. amid a burst Of laughter. that he
certainly would.
The excitement abroad was attributed AZ
the capitol today 10 part to the fact that
several England and Canadian newspaper
correspondents 5slese rs the press gallery
following the debate when Mr.. ozark spoke
Ills remarks may have appealed to them az
the most important feature Of the story
and have been called according. In 'skele-
tonlzlng" his remarks for cable purposes
the semi-huinorous character OF the debate
was entirely lost sight Of Friends OF the
reciprocity measure We're inclined 20 take
the view that opponents OF the agreement
had simply seized upon what was regarded
here as an entirely personal and harmless
statement to make capital against the
ratification OF the agreement
similar Speeches Made.
declaration similar to that made by
Mr., Clark was contained In the opening
speech last Monday in favor OF the reci-
proclty bill in the house delivered by Rep
resentative Hii OF Connecticut. member
OF the ways and means committee and a
member OF the administration party. This
speech. widely reported In the American
papers caused not ripple so far as its
annexation sentiments we're concerned
Mr., Hll also quoted from a speech made
few years ago by Speaker aCnnon In
which he not only took Canada in under
the American flag, but proposed to make
the entire western hemisphere into one
country.
Democratic leaders particularly were
pleased today over the passage Of the Nc
Call bill. Representative Underwood OF
Alabama Minority Leader Clarks chief
lieutenant and the chairman OF the ways
and means committee Of the next congress,
said that he regarded the action OF the
house as in every way helpful to the demo-
Gratis that It marked the beginning OF the
end Of high protection and foreshadowed a
democratic victory in the national cleo
tions In 1912 Their vote showed that they
were as badly split up as the democrats
were in the last session OF congress during
the Cleveland administration
Speaker Cannon, Republican Dwight.
Chairman DalEell OF the rules committee
and other leaders Of the republican party
In the house were among those who stood
Out against the administration program,
and IN edemocratic leaders figured that
this split in the ranks augured we'll for
depoeraic success
Taft Expresses surprise.
President Taft today to some Of his con
gressional callers expressed astonlshment
that Representative clark should have in
ieoted into the reciprocity discussion of the
house yesterday any thought about the an.
uexaton Of Canada.
The White House Is said to regard the
remarks Of Mr. CLARK as most unfortunate
and the president has made it known that
he would Ike to have Il understood
throughout the world that his administra.
lion had no thought whatever Of annexa-
tlon when the reciprocity agreement was
arranged.
The president, Il Is said. is hopeful that
the people Of this country. Canada and
Great Britain will look upon the speech
OF M. CLARK merely as the expression Of
an individual who, In the sentiment doe,
not represent the democratic party or an,
party In this country
President Writes 90 MeCau.
In reply TO Representative Clarks state
ments, President Taft sent letter toda,
20 Representative Mccall OF AIassachu
setts, whose name the reciprocity bill
bears, declaring that Canada Is now an,
viii remain political unit"
The letter In full follows;
4 write 20 congratulate you sincerel
on the passage through the house OF th'
Mccall bill, enactlng into legislation an
reciprocity agreement With Canada sin
eerely hope It viii pass the senate an,
become q part Of our statutes.
This agreement II II becomes a law
Cconunued on second PaseO