The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-26
INDICATIONS GOOD
 FOR 4ZO[LVERE|N"
Reciprocity With All Amer
 ican Continent
IS TAFTS AMBITION
Senate Is Ceasing to Be Body of Aged Solons, Who Are Being Supplemented By Active
 Young Men
By RALPH M. wHITEsIDE

By HAGfH M aHlIESlDG
 Washington, February 95.-(Special.)- When the reciprocity agreement with Canada was reached and before it was formally submitted to Congress I sug gested that this was the first step in the policy which President Taft had decided upon and which would ultimately lead to similar treaties with Mexico, Central and South America and which would ul tImately lead to an American zollverein or tariff union, if there was no hitch.
 Already the correctness of this sugges- ton has been demonstrated. Mexico all ready has taken the initiative though not as yet officially looking to a reciprocal tariff agreement with the United States. The present unsettled condition of af- fairs in Mexico may delay formal action but 1t is not at all improbable that for maj negotiations will have begun again before the end of the year.
 At the recent Pan American Commer- cial Conference President Taft made this very significant utterance:
 'Mr Clark is in favor of reciprocity agreements with all parts of the world, and so am l.
 "It is undoubtedly true that the pro- motion of commercial relations neces- sarly brings about closer political and social relations between nations and makes much less likely the hostility and the hard feelings that are likely to lead to war;
 .'The union of the Latin-American re- publics has in recent years shown the possibility of bringing to bear upon coun- tries that we disposed to resort to war the effect of public opinion-internation al public opinion--of 21 countries united for the purpose of keeping the peace. And have no doubt that as our com mercial relations become closer. as the method through The Hague tribunal and by direct negotiation for the prevention of war becomes better understood. the union in this hemisphere of all these countries will be an example to the en- tire world of what can be done by in- ternational union for the purpose of pro noting peace.'
 President Taft is not spectacular per son. He does not take brass band along with him when hunting rabbits, but he has made mighty good record in the way of bringing the rabbits home and 1t is not at all improbable that he will put this reciprocity rabbit into his game bag before he puts away his gun.
 The character of men coming into the United States Senate in recent years has changed greatlyk Instead of sending their elder statesmen, men who have grown old and experienced after long service, the states are electing youngsters. In most cases the young men have simply fought their way into the. Senate.
 The Bristows. the Browns, the Borahs. the Cumminses and the Poindexters act ually have fought their way into the Senate chamber. Senator Root Is some what disturbed by the departure from the customs of the old days when the states delighted to honor their distin- gushed men by sending them to the Sem ate It is rare exception nowadays when statesman, matter how ex- perienced and respected, is elected to the Senate without the hardest kind of scramble.
 One reason that Senator Root opposed the plan of the election of senators by direct vote is that 1t will tend to keep out of the Senate the older men who shrink from turmoil and strife. The cleo ton of senators by popular vote, Sena- tor Root thinks, would bar out many able men who would not care to as sume the burdens of an active canvass possible abuse of the sensational press and otherwise subject themselves to the dsagreeable incidents and trife of cam paign.
 Speaking of the Senate, the death, of Senator Elkins has again raised the ques- ton as to who Is the richest man in the Senate. As a matter of fact, Senator FL kins was several notches from the head in the Senate multimillionaire class but he was frequently given the title.
 It is probable that the real plutocrat of the Senate would be selected from these three men. Senator Stephenson of Wisconsin, Senator Crane of Massachu- setts of Senator Guggenheim of Colo rado.
 Senator Crane Is reputed the largest single holder in the American Telephone and Telegraph company. Senator Stepa- enson is set down the biggest owner of standing timber In the country, with possibly an exception two, but not necessarily. Senator Guggenhem is heavily Interested in mines and collateral industries. Each of them. is estimated all the way from $2O, 100000 to s5O,00O,000.
 At S1 years-the oldest in the Senate Stephenson is said to be getting richer by millions each year through advance in value of the timber holdings
 You can call him general, senator judge or almost any other handy handle; they all apply to Francis Marion Cockrel After living in Washington 36 years ha is seeing the town, and says he likes It. Since retiring a few weeks ago from the interstate commerce commission Judge-Senator--no General Cockrell has been walking six or seven miles day. seeing Washington. He never had time to do it before.
 Have you been to see the new National museum?' inquired his son the other