New-York tribune., 1911-02-16
From The Tribune Bureau.l

| toot stems this morning. Immediately
upon learning Of the break OF Repre-
sentative Champ Clark, the Speakers
designate, In the debate In the HOUSE,
| Yesterday. to nullify the effect OF Mn
Clark's declaration In favor OF the an~
nexation Of Canada
The President realizes, OF course. thae
no one in this country Is likely 10 take
the u.terance of the Missouri statesman
seriously, or as rejecting even the vieW
of his party, which has been 1nsistents
In season and out against anything
which, by any possible construction
could be construed as an entanslino
alliance.
The President appreciated, hOweverd
the use to which a section Of the Brttish
press might put the declaration OF Mr..
Clark. Already dispatches impusnina
the motives Of the United States have
been cabled to London by correspondents
Of a certain class Of papers. and as SOON
as the Executive could figure out a.
method he dictated the following letter
to Representative MCCALL:
7 write to congratulate you sincerely
upon the passage through the House or
the Mccall bill enacting into legislation
the reciprocity agreement with Canada.
I sincerely hope that II Will pass the
Senate and become a part OF our stat
utes.
This agreement, II II becomes law.
has no political significance. No thought
of future political annexation or union
was in the mind OF the negotiators on
either side. Canada Is now and viii re-
main q political unit.
I am very sure II this agreement be-
comes law 1t will inure to the great
social and economic benefit OF both
countries.
So far as the British government Is
concerned. the President has no anxiety.
There Is entire accord between that goy-
ernment and this. At no time have the
relations been more cordial than at pres
ent. but he would deplore anything
which tended to make harder the course
either of the home government at Lon"
don. or Of the government at ottawa
for whose cooperation In negotiating
thi1 agreement he Is deeply grateful.
Mr.. Clark Surprised.
The news that Mr.. Clark's illusions
had created excitement in Canada and
in England occasioned great surprise and
considerable amusement at the Capitol
The man most surprised of all was Mr..
Clark himself.
Mr.. Clark's entire speech on reciprocity
Yesterday was delivered in a half hu-
Lolf
was in a gale of laughter most OF tho
time. In return for the laughs he was
creating at their expense. some Of tho
Republicans tried TO turn the tables ON
Mr.. Clark by chiding him with the fact
that he might have President Taft as an
opponent for the Democratic nomination.
This humorous exchange reflected tho
spirit of the debate during the entire
time Mr. Clark was on his feet. and no
,ne gave serious consideration TO his re-
marks regarding the possible annexation
y Canada at some dim distant time.
They regarded his statments In the
nature of a compliment To the Canadian
people, in that he would be glad to
zee the friendship that exists at pres
be of the United States so ripen in tho
uture that all might some day be under
me flag.
There was further touch Of faoetious-
,ess to the debate when one of the Re-
,ublcans asked Mr.. Clark IL he would
ike TO be the first president OF the
magnificent union he was creating. and
..F f.,.
le certainly would.
Friends Of the reciprocity measure
we're inclined 10 take the view that op-
,onents of the agreement had simply
eized upon what was regarded here as
n entirely personal and harmless state
nent to make capital against the ratin-
alton OF the agreement.
Lodge May Lead Senate Fight.
Mr.. Taft may be compelled to desig.
ate a leader 10 take charge OF the ad-
interest in the fight over
he reciprocity agreement in the Senate.
nd il he does the indications are that
e will select Senator Lodge. The FL
ance Committee, 10 which the Mccall
i'll was referred when II was sent over
rom the House to-day. is lukewarm
oward the measure.
There was a great deal OF speculation
o-day as 20 whether the Mccall bill
would receive majority vote in tha
No member OF the commit
ee is inclined TO delay procedure in view
Z President Tafts great interest in tho
lon TO the Presidents programme. it
'as reported tonight that there might
e no vote In committee at all. Soma
enators are trying TO have the Mccall
i'll reported without recommendation.
living its opponents the right TO present
heir objections on the Senate floor.
BY reason OF the illness .: Senator