The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-30
Reciprocity Agreement
M ayBringA boutNeW
Alignment.
AND STILL HE is
UNCONCERNED
He Depends Upon Popular De.
inand to Force Acceptance Of
His Program ON Congress.
Republican Party Finds
Itself in Very Embar-
RAISING Position.

Washington, p. c., January 2o.-t;m-
harrassed is mild word to define the
lpredicamcnt in which Republican mem
bers Of Congress have found them
selves since President Taft submitted
his program for reduction in the cost
OF living through the medium Of COM
mcrcial reciprocity with Canada
/ High protectionists. confident OF the
! sympathy OF tho executive, have not
| hcsitated to go to the White House
! disrupted II the program Is insisted
| upon. 1nsurgent Republicans, many Of
! whom have become unaccustomcd 10 80
/ 10 the White House at ALL have been
| pursuing q policy of silence. White
some OF them are ready to admit that
| the proposed agreement is in line with
their tariff arguments in the past, they
| fear TO adopt il lest they bring upon
their heads the wrath of agricultural
| lists.
| Tnft Unconccrned.
! PRESIDENT Taft appears about the
only one who lis showing no concern
about the situation. He is said 10
| have met all arguments against lac
agreement with a determination to dis
| >,
whether they come from Stand Patters
/ or insurgents. He believes what he
| has recommended to re right and he
made 1t clear that SO long as he con-
hnues SO to believe. he cannot -
dissuaded from using every force at
his command TO advance legislation 10
| put the agreement into operation.
| The question which has arisen natu-
rally is. How can President Taft ex-
| pect TO bring about favora BILE action
on the agreement without having the
| support of some faction of his own
party in Congress-" Some want to
know If Mr.. Taft is depending wholly
| upon the Democratic support for l.,c
| program. Those who have taken the
| trouble to talk with the President
! about tho matter arc said to have been
| told that he counted upon the people
| gcnerally,,thc masses who think lie is
| trying TO lower the cost OF Iood, TO
create sentiment necessary TO induce
Congress to act.
| The annual dinner of the Ohio Society
| is to be held in this city to- morrow
night. end President Taft is TO be one
lof the speakers. 1t is expected that lie
Will take this occasion TO say some
thing about reciprocity Political lead :
ers arc wondering IL he Will tell what
! nc intends to dc4if Congress fails to
act on the agreement at the present
session. There has been d great deal
Of talk of an extra session IL the reel
| procity legislation fails, and it is known
| that much OF this talk was brought
| from! the White House by men who en-
| Joy confidential relations with The
| President.
| Future mt Stake.
! The preparation that is being MADE
| by the President for contest with
| Congress clearly shows that something
inore powerful than mere politics must
be used 10 combat him. Yet the fgh,
lis beginning to loom up as a political
| issue. Some members of the Senate
ana House. who would be. expected to
| take tho lead for the denomination
of AR. Taft in 1912. may now be found
to be lukewarm in their support OF him
| II the President should deem IL incum-
| Dent upon him TO call an extra session
! OF Congress and submit the reciprocity
agreement to the Democrats Of tho next
House it is said that still others OF
! the Republican party may be alien
ated.
| This phase of the situation was dis
cusscd by one of the Presidents friends
today. lie said that if Mr.. Taft had
given any thought to his poiticaI flu
ture in advocating the Canadian agree
ment. It had not heen manifested in his
converse lions. At the same time this
| friend declared that he believed the
! President had "a great deal 10 gain,
even in politics. by carrying on a fight
| 10 decrease the cost OF living
| The Introduction by Representative
| Mccall. OF Massachusetts,, OF bill TO
carry out the terms of the Canadian
agreement indicates that there will be
| little delay in bringing such meas
| ure from the Ways and Means Com
mittee a majority OF the committee
| is known to favor the agreement
| Although 1t may be some time before
the reciprocity question is discussed on
the floor OF either house. 1t entirely
subordinates other subjects in corridor
and cloakroom gossip. Nevertheless.
a busy week confronts both branches.
| The composite tariff board measure.
cmbodyfng portions Of the Dalzcll and
Longworth bills. under the special rule
| brought out of the Rules Committee.
| may be brought UP tomorrow.
Contest &c cities.
The roll Of the House VIII be called
on Tuesday. in order that mem bers may
answer New Orleans or san Fran
cisco' in expressing preference as to
which city shall head an exposition in
lala in celebration OF the opening al
the Panama Canal. The proceeding is
so unusual that it is likely to attract
large crowds 70 the galleries There
is considerabl bitterness between tie
supporters Of the rival cities.
| In the senate. tho l.orinlcr case, the
resolution on tho subject OF direct vote
for United States Senators, and appro-
priation bilis will be the order. with
odd time taken up with the ship sub
sidy measure.
II., ---------------. 3.i-
|