The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-06-01
Our Washington Letter.

'(By Clyde H.. Tavenner, special
Washington correspondent for The
Reporter)
Washington, May 27.-After hav-
ing worked eighteen years for the
admission of Arizona and New Next
co as separate states of the union,
the democratic majority of the house
found it a genuine labor of love to
pass the statehood resolution.
In voting for the admission of the
territories as states, the house Meth
er Endorsed or condemned the recall
did was to indorse local self govern
ment and the right of the state to
control it's own affairs.
For 60 years New Mexico has been
at the doors of congress for admis-
sion. Arizona has also long con-
tended it's right to statehood. The
1908 democratic platform pledged
the Immediate admission of these
territories as separate states" This
pledge was carried out before the
democrats had been in control of the
house three months, which action
was in striking contrast to the Jug
glery the statehood measures have
been receiving at the hands of the
now minority Of the house.
The debate in the house on the
statehood resolution indicated plain
ly what would have been the result
had the republicans still been in the
majority. They would have admit
ted New Mexico with the gerry
mander of her legislature, and would
have made the recall of judges pre-
text for keeping Arizona indefinitely
out of the union. This is plainly
seen by the speeches and votes of the
republicans in favor of immediate
admission of New Mexico and against
the admission of Arizona.
The real motive for this was in
elect two senators to reinforce the
declining republican majority in the
senate, and in the certainty that Ari-
IONA will elect two democrats.
Big Revision Downward.
Indications are that the democrat
ic house will reduce the tariff on raw
wool by one half. This would be car
rying out the promise contained in
the national democratic platform of
1908 which was that gradual re-
auctions should be made in such 9TH
er schedules as may be necessary to
restore the tariff to revenue basis
The consideration of the revenue
needs of the government was what
caused the bulk of the democratic
majority to decide upon cutting the
raw wool duty in two. The tax on
raw wool last year brought $21 ,O00,-
900 into the treasury and the gov
eminent cannot afford to give up that
sum while there is no income tax.
The democrats will purge Sched-
ule K. of every one of the iniquitous
jokers and no duty on manufactures
of wool will be above so per cent ad
valorem. This means sweeping re-
ing, blankets and all articles COM
posed in whole or in any part of
wool.
The duty collected on manufac-
tured wool last year amounted to
S2v,v00,000. The average rate under
the Payne-Aldrich law amounts to
the equivalent of 80 per cent ad
valorem, and in the proposed demo-
cratic bill this rate will be decreased
one-half This reduction of duty
should have the effect Of both in
creasing the revenues and reducing
the cost of woolens to the cUnsum-
ers.
Reciprocity Threatened.
That the reciprocity measure is
in a precarious position in the senate
is admitted even at the white house.
Practically the same interests and
the same methods that became fam
Gus through saving the seat OF Lori
mer, are factors in the fight against
reciprocity. The lumber interests, for
instance, are anxious to have reci-
procity defeated, and the gigantic
paper trust is equally hostile to the
measure.
1t has only been within the last
day or two that President Taft has
realized how serious is the PROPOSE
ton of reciprocity. Two weeks ago,
and even as late as week ago, reci-
procity appeared to have a safe ma
jority in the senate. The fight against
the measure was carried on very
quietly, just as the fight to save Boss
Lorimer was conducted. Suddenly it
developed that the powerful inter-
ests which still control the senate,
had apparently secured enough
pledges to defeat reciprocity.
The Lorimer tactics contemplate a
long delay during which time the
finance committee will ostensibly
proceed with it's investigation. Then,
when the opposition sees that it has
the votes to crush the treaty, they
will allow it to come to a vote.
Senators Stone, of Missouri, and
Williams, of Mississippi, both demo-
cratic members Of the finance COM
mittee, are working earnestly to
save reciprocity. But they are find
ing it uphill work in the committee,
which is dominated by the reaction
aries.
Knute Weird Performer.
Senator Knute Nelson, of Mime
sofa, has snapped tariff ideas again.
He now attacks President Taft be-
cause of the reciprocity agreement
and it's alleged injury to the farmers.
Yet when opposing the Payne-Al-
drich tariff bill in the last congress
he asserted that there is no protec-
ton for the farmers in the tariff. He