Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1911-02-03
Will IT BENEFIT us
new TARIFF WILL REDUCE
HIGH COST OF LIVING AC-
CORDlNG TO TAFT.
Reduce Cost of Living Through Medium
of Reciprocity With Canada-High
Protectionists Claim the Republican
Party Will Be Disrupted if Program
Is Insisted Upon.

Washington, Jan. 81. - =" Embar
rassedV is mild word to define the
predcament in which republican mem
bers of congress have found themselves
since President Taft submitted his pro-
Gram for a reduction in the cost of liv-
inc through the medium of reciprocity
with Canada.
High protectionists, confident of the
sympathy of the executive, have not
besitated to 90 to the White House
with predictions that the party will be
disrupted if the program is insisted
upon. Insurgent republicans, many of
whom have become unaccustomed to
4 visiting the White House at all, have
been pursuing the policy of silence.
While some of them are ready to ad-
nit that the proposed agreement is in
line with the tariff arguments, they fear
to adopt it lest they bring upon their
heads the wrath of the agriculturists
4 President Taft appears to be about the
only one who is showing no concern.
He is said to have met all arguments
against the agreement with a determi
nation to disregard mere political OBJ
i ,jections, whether they come from stand
patters or insurgents.
He believes what he has recommend
ed to be right, and has made it clear
that so long as he continues so to be
Il lieve he can not be dissuaded from
using every force at his command to
h promote legislation to put the agree
ment into operation.
II Kept Own Counsel.
II That President Taft realized fully
#what arguments would be advanced by
#protectionists against freedom of tariff
Mrelations with Canada is proved by the
Hfact that not single member of the
&wavs and means committee of the house
Tor the finance committee of the senate
Twas appraised in advance as to what ar
#ticles would be affected by the agree
IFment.
u His consultations were had exclusive
|8ly with the government trade experts
&and only such of those as are believed
Ito be beyond political influence. In
Sfnothng he has done since he became
Rpresident has Mr.. Taft displayed so
|&much independence of spirit.
nj Progressive republicans are deriving
some comfort from the fact that Sena
tor Aldrich and Speaker Cannon and
others of the old guard apparently were
las much in the dark as any one else
IN hout the nrpSidert 3 nlanS
The question has arisen how Mr..
TAFT can bring about favorable action
ION the argument without having the
support of one faction of his own party
Z in congress. Some want to know if Mr.
TAFT is depending wholly upon the
v Known democratic support for the pro-
gram.
M Tariff Board Ready.
Isl The tariff board, the bureau of sta
8 tistics and other bodies that are analyz-
ing the economic questions involved in
Die commerce of this country are ready
q fortify President Taft with any
s figures he may need in carrying on a
campaign of education.
e# These bureaus already have prepared
much information upon the relations of
R export trade to commercial reciprocity
with Canada.
This information shows that neither
country has any advantage in the mar
Ekets of Europe. The United States and
canada can get equal prices for grains
and other products of the soil unless
enc offers articles of superior quality.
y is recognized that the United States
has always found good market abroad
fpr agricultural products and even
Wheat
t The preparation being made by the
president for contest with congress
acl eary shows that something more
Powerful than mere politics must be
used to combat him. Yet the fight is
peginning to loom up as political
issue.