The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-14
Opponents Admit There Is No Way to Stop the
 Vote Now
VOTE 197 TO 12O TO
 CONSIDER MEASURE
Democrats Vote Almost S0lidly foe Immediate Consideration and Ap- plaud When Some Say They
 See End of Protection

Washington. February 13.-The Mo- Call bill. carrying into effect the Can adan reciprocity agreement, reached the floor of the House today and prob ably will be passed by that body be- fore adjournment tomorrow night. Even the opponents of the measure admitted today there was no hope of stopping it In the house.
 A test vote came today soon after the House was called to order by Speak CT Cannon. Mir. Mccall moved the i'm mediate consideration of his bill. This was objected to ostensibly on the ground that 1t was District of Columbia day on the calendar and that import ant matters of legislation affecting the district were pending.
 When the voting began, however, fl soon became apparent that, with com paratively few exceptions the lines were being tightly drawn between those favoring and those opposing the trade agreement As finally corrected the vote 4 to take up the bill was 197 to 120 The bill will be passed, 1t Is said. by even larger majority Today 101 republi- cans voted against immediate consid- eration. This number will show de- cfded diminution on the final roll call. Sixty-three republicans voted for i'm mediate consideration is The democratic vote was divided 134 In favor of immediate consideration and 19 against As in the case of some of the opposing republicans, a few of the democrats voted against immedi- ate consideration because they are members of the District of Columbia committee.
 Small Democratic Opposition
 Democratic leaders say there will be but six or seven votes against the passage of the bill from their side
 No time for vote was set today, but tomorrow MT. Mccall will endeavor 70 get an agreement to end general de- eate at o'clock. and then to begin the reading of the bill of the amendment, the House to remain in session until the measure is passed. All amendments except one or two minor ones to the wood pulp schedule. to correct errors VIII be voted down for serious amend ments would nullify the negotiations of the last six months
 The test vote taken today and the general debate that followed clearly Demonstrated the serious split that ex fists among the republicans of inc house on reciprocity. It now appears that majority of the republicans will vote against the measure, although the President Is likely to get more support From that side of the chamber than he at first expected. Like the regulars the fnsurgent ranks are torn wide open. and like the regulars, a majority of them will vote against the measure.
 End of Protection
 Some of the republicans who spoke today declared they saw in the re- ciprocity agreement the beginning of the end of protection. The democrats applauded this .vociferously Mr. Mar tin of South Dakota was particularly apprehensve over the assault on the principle of protection. Mir. Kendall of Iowa also took mournful view of the situation. He asserted reciprocity was being supported by a minority of re- pubicans anxious to initiate the dem ocrats'' and by majority of demo- crats, "determined to destroy the re- publican party"
 T decline" he said, ito witness the assassination without entering pro est, nor will attend the obsequies without word for the principle which will be dead"
 The republican split Is accentuated by the fact that one member of that party, MT. Mccall of Massachusetts, is directing the debate in favor of the measure, and another republican. MT. Dalzell of Pennsylvania is directing the fight against 1t.
 Representative Hill of Connecticut opened the debate in favor of the bill and was the only republican to advo- cate 1t today. He was seconded by Rep sesentatives Harrison of New York and A. Mitchell Palmer of Pennsylvania. Representatives Gains of West Virginia Martin of South Dakota and Kendall of Iowa, all republicans, spoke against reciprocity.
 Hill Fayors Measure
 MT. Hill contended that a protective tariff policy presupposes reciprocity and trade agreements and that free trade policy has nothing to give in re. turn for concessions and hence noth- ing to gain from them.
 Since the republican party was or ganixed and while 1t has been in power" said MT. Hill, there never has been a time that reciprocal agreements with other countries have not been in operation and President Taft stands today in full harmony with Lincoln, Grant, Mckinley, Roosevelt and all of his iilustrious predecessors with re- gard to that principle
 He declared that under reciprocity trade between this country and Hawaii and Cuba flourished; that under free trade with Porto Rico, our trade with that island Increased nearly 15 fold; that under reciprocal relations with the Philippine islands. mutual trade has grown 70 per cent in less than year. In all of these cases the proposition to enter upon such trade relations wal met with prophesies of dire disaster to some existing industry in this country and in every case the prophecy failed of fulfillment. the new policy resulting in mutual advantage.
 Gains Opposed T Mir. Gaines complained that the reef procity measure had been railroaded through with indecent haste"
 He declared the committee on ways and means had not allowed him to call ex- rerts to testify and that little or nothing was known about the measure.
 MT. Harrison of New York, favoring the measure, said the democrats were anxious to. have reciprocity. It would show the, American farmer in q very little while, he asserted that protection had been of no benefit to him The farmer. he said for years had been held in line for republicanism through false pre- tensea.
 And when he finds that protection Is a E humbug In his case" added MT. Harrison. & she will help us get better tariff sched- uleS as to other things" Mfr. Palmer, also favoring the bill characterized 1t as belated ackn2wl- H edEnent of the disappointment the coun- \ try felt over the Paync-Aldrich tarin q .- ~I