The Washington herald., 1911-06-01
HOUSE MAJORITY
To REVISE WOOL
TARIFF TO-DAY
Democratic Caucus to O. K.
Committee Bill.
BRYAN'S EFFORTS FAIL

Democrats of the House will
caucus at noon to-day to consider
the bill to revise Schedule K of the
Payne-Aldrich tariff law, dealing
with wool and woolens, which has
been approved by the Democratic
members of the Ways and Means
Committee.
BRYAN'S EFFORT.
To-day's caucus derives additional In
terest from the recent visit Of william
Jennings Bryan to Washington, when,
it is understood. he endeavored to In
duce those members Of the majority
party in the House who favor free wool
to bolt the party caucus should deter
mination be reached to support the Ways
and Means Committee bill, which pro-
vides for a cut of approximately 80 per
cent in raw wool and reductions along
the line in the manufactured article.
Representative Underwood, of Alabama,
the Ways and Means chairman, who
night gave out an interview
severely scoring the erstwhils peerless
leader" for his attempts to disrupt the
House Democrats. who up to date have
worked together in almost complete har-
mony. is not worried at the prospect.
He declares that as a direct result Of
the friction between him and Mr.. Bryan
and Of the latter's caustic comments con-
corning all Democrats who favor a duty
on wool, contained in the advance pub
lication Of an editorial written for the
Commoner, the Ways and Means pro-
gramme will go through with more votes
than would have been the case had not
MIR. Bryan taken an active part in the
row.
night" said Mr.. Underwood emphati-
cally last evening. Mr.. Bryan's efforts
have had the effect Of bringing over to
our side a number Of Democrats who
otherwise would have been against us.
think the Ways and Means wool bill
will carry by two-thirds majority
There appears to be no disposition on
the part Of Mr.. Underwood and the other
Democratic leaders in the House to cut
short the debate to-day concerning the
extent to which Schedule X shall be re-
vised. On the contrary, they propose to
encourage the discussion of this impor-
.ant subject by the rank and file Of the
majority party. In the event the debate
should run all day without evidence of
'eing exhausted, no attempt will be made
o force a vote. Instead, arrangements
will be made to adjourn the House i'm
nediately after 1t convenes tomorrow,
10 that the caucus, recessing over from
his afternoon, may continue on that day.
Reports Next Tuesday.
In the event of this being necessary,
he bill approved by the caucus will be
Introduced on Tuesday next, and imme-
1iately reported from the Ways and
Means Committee. and then the House
week to Its consideration.
Both Democrats and Republicans Of the
ower branch discussed with interest
the wide difference in the
stand taken by Mr.. Underwood and
Speaker Champ Clark to meet the situ-
alton developed through Mr.. Bryan's at
tempt to interfere in the programme Of
the House leaders with reference to re-
vision of the wool schedule. Mr.. Under
wood, Immediately after reading the text
Of Mr.. Bryan's editorial, which will ap-
pear in the next issue of the Commoner,
came out in a strong statement emphat-
Ically disaoproving of Mr.. Bryan's stand
calling attention to the fact that Mr..
Bryan, while a member of the House.
nd ha Wilson hill
imposed a tariff on wool no greater than
IS now proposed in the Ways and Means
Lill, and criticising the Nebraskan for
his efforts to induce free-wool Demo-
Gratis to bolt the caucus and stir up
trouble generally. Champ Clark, on the
other hand. has had nothing to say on
the subject for publication.
An air Of mystery, in fact, prevails In
the Speakership quarter, which is said
tc bode some surprising things later on.
It is asserted that Mr.. Clark is well
primed in a certain particular. and II he
Joes open up on Mr.. Bryan. it will be
With a withering volley. There are sew
eral Representatives, who were called to
the Speakers room early in the wool
schedule agitation. who assert that they
saw with their own eyes signed state
nent from Mr.. Bryan, in which the lat
ter gave assurances Of an abandonment
,f leaning toward free raw wool, and
set forth n commendation Of q plan for
80 per cent reduction or wool accom-
panied oy an arrangement for a gradu-
ited reduction. Of the rest Of the duty
asting over a period Of five years.
This statement from Mr.. Bryan Is said
o be lying In Speaker Clark's desk. and
( is understood that 1t is to be trotted
'orth at the proper time, although Mr..
Clark will spare the painful proceeding
. It is not necessary to use the state
nent in overcoming such sentiment as
nr. Bryan may have gained for free
WOOL
Fought Issue in April.
The .statementof Bryan is understood to
,ave been obtained early in April when
he Nebraskan attended the opening Of
he extra session Of Congress. He fought
hat time. according to report. and capit-
Hated to compromise scheme. only to
'eturn to 'out-and-out free wool later on.
This circumstance may explain the gen.
raj impression among House Democrats
hat Mr.. Clark has not done himself or
lis Presidential aspirations any good by
'efusing to come out in the open and. in
'iew Of the fact that he u known to be
n accord with Mr.. Underwood on the
vool question. may have created the I'm
,ression among influential Democrats
Who are none to strong In their admira-
ion for Mr.. Bryan that he II afraid to
AXE q stand In opposition to his long
line idol and party leader.
Incidentally those Democrats who were
candidates for committee chairmanohips
before the special session convened and
against whom Mr.. Bryan, successfully
,r otherwise. exerted hin influence. VIII
undoubtedly improve the ilrst opportunity