The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-05-13
DEF|ED FARMERS
Iaft'S Speech Surprises
Politicians.
WONDER WHAT WILL COME NEXT
Told Callers if They Didn't Like
Like His Reciprocity Work They
Could Do as They Pleased
About II.

Washington, May II. - President
Taft's speech to farmers the other day
has astonlshed the professional poiiil'
clans as nothing has for months
Reduced to the language that every
body understands, the president told
the gentlemen representing the
Grange. who called on him and told
him about the dangers Of reciprocity
to the farmer, and in effect held the
club of political retaliation over his
head that If they did not like 1t they
could do as they pleased about Il.
or course, when a president IN
dulges In such plain speaking as this
the politicians hold up their hands
and wonder what is to come OF II all
lust now they are saying that the
effect of this speech will be to bury
President TAFT so deep in ballots in
the elections OF next year that he VIII
not be able 10 get out for months.
As a matter Of fact, the politicians
have been talking with great frank
ness about the case Of President TAR
for months. Most Of them agree that
he will not be re-elected-prOyided
the Democrats nominate strong can
didate. The Democratic politicians, ol
course. aver this, and most OF the reg
ular politicians say the same thlng
Some Of the regulars want the presi
dent to succeed himself, and othei
do not. As for the insurgent Republr
cans, most OF them want him defeat
ed.
In general way. this represents
1 the situation as it has existed iol
many weeks; and the opponents OF
/ Taft now sa that his advocacy OF re
ciprocity, and especially his virtual de
fianoe of the farmers. who are against
reciprocity. greatly accentuates his
difficulties.
But there Is another side to the
situation. In the first place, 1t Is
clear that only a part Of the farmers
are opposed to the Canadian agree
ment In the second place, the CUES
ton is raised to what extent President
TAFT. by his fight for reciprocity, u
going to rally to his support the ulti
mate consumers Of the United State
who live In the cities and towns. The
agitation of the tariff question Is due
TO the protest Of the ultimate consum
ers against the high cost OF living
Without doubt the character Of TIT
population OF the country is changing
The United States is becoming a ma
ton in which the number Of consum
ers is growing by leaps and bounds
while the number of producers Is rela
lively diminishing.
President Taft, In his advocacy o
reciprocity, has taken the side. 1t Is
generally considered. Of the consum
ing public. This raises the question IL
a political way whether the consum
crs of the country are going TO stant
by him. In other words. the question Is
whether the president will gain a.
much supporter more-from the con
sumers as he is going TO lose from
those producing elements that oppose
reciprocity or any reduction Of tariff
duties.
President Taft himself is not look
ing for anything but loss OF votes
from the advocacy Of reciprocity. lie
did not take the matter up for the
sake Of political advantage. He real
ICES as well as any one that he vii
probably suffer severe political conse
quences. Still, it might happen to turr
out the other way And this IS wha
the political wiseacres are wonderins
about.