The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-12-27
WANTS CREDIT
President Taft Tries to Play Game Of
Shabby Politics
How AND WHY HE DID IT

He Attempts to Take Credit From
the Democratic House for Getting
After Russia for M-treating the
Jews by Turning It Over to the
Senate.
President Taft turned over to the
Senate Monday the TASK Of complet-
ing the abrogation Of the treaty Of
1892 with Russia, because Of alleged |
Determinations against American cit
liens of Jewish faith. The House on
Saturday passed resolution demand
ing this action.
Ignoring the House Of Representa-
tives, the President sent message to
the Senate announcing that Oh Friday
last, he had caused notice to be for
warded to St. Petersburg that the
United States desired the treaty to
end January /, 1913. This notidca-
ton was officially handed to the rep
reseatative Of the Russian Govern
nlent Sunday.
Mr.. Taft asked the Senate to ratify
and give effect TO his action. The
foreign affairs committee of the SEN
tie voted unanimously to report res
olution Of ratification, couched in dip
lomatic terms, and Senator Lodge Of
fered it later in the Senate.
There was every reason to believe
that the resolution would be pushed
through, inasmuch as the Senate COM
mittee, as an act Of courtesy to the
House, had decided that the lower
ranch Of Congress should be asked to
concur in the Senate's action.
Senator Hepburn, Of Idaho, how
ever, took the floor and after pro-
testing vigorously against hasty ac-
ton, asserted his right under the
rules and by formal objection threw
further consideration Of the matter
over until Tuesday, when 1t was tax
en- up and the Presidents suggestions
were carried out.
Democratic leaders, both in the
Senate and the House, are determined
to claim credit for the abrogation Ct
the treaty. Senators Culberson, Of
Texas, and Hitchcock, Of Nebraska,
the latter a member Of the foreign
relations committee, served prelini-
nary notice to this effect IN the Ser
ate Monday. Senator Culberson ac-
cused President Taft Of trying to strip
the House of one Of its pre7ogatives
and asserted that the President was
trying to steal Democratic thunder" :"
In his message to the Senate, Pres
ident Taft transmitted copy Of the
letter which American Ambassador
Guild, at st. Petersburg, had trans
mitted to the Russian foreign Office.
N it was expressed the view CT the
United States that the old treaty no
longer met the political principles or
commercial needs of the two nations
and should be terminated.
Senator Culberson said Monday
night that he could not venture pre-
diction as to how far the Democrats
of the Senate would go in their oppo-
sition to the Lodge resolution, or any
other resolution approving the action
Of the President in taking the matter
out Of the hands Of Congress, fol-
lowing the adoption of the Sulzer res
olution in the House.
There is feeling among the Dem
ocrats," he said, "ttat the President
is trying to steal their thunder.
think the country ought to be made
acquainted with the facts"
The Senate upon convening lost no
time in taking up the question. I'm
mediately after the reading Of the
Journal, an executive clerk from the
White House appeared with the Pres
ident's message and it was at once
read to the Senate, receiving unusual
ly close attention.
With the message disposed Of, Sen
ator Lodge presented the report Of
the committee on foreign relations,
with the resolution provided as sub
stitute for the House declaration.
In speaking Of the matter the
Washington correspondent says polit-
ical Washington is an agog over the
effort of President Taft to take the
lead in the movement to abrogate
the Russian treaty, after the House
had acted for abrogation against the
Executives expressed wish that the
matter be deferred until after the
holidays.
It is understood that great game
CT politics is being played, with the
credit for abrOgaticn as the prize.
The Democratic leaders, while not
objecting to such alterations in the
words of the House resolution as may
seem advisable, are inclined to re-
sent the Presidents effort to disre-
gard the House in the handling Of
the subject.
There is a feeling that the P-esi-
dent unwarrantedly a6ronted the
House when he sent his message OF
Monday to the Senate only. There will
be fireworks in Congress about this
before the holiday recess, unless all
signs fail.
COSTS THEM BIG MONEY.