Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-02-04
Will IT BENEFIT Us
new TARIFF WILL REDUCE
HIGH COST Of LIVING AC-
C0RDING TO TAFT.
Reduce Cost of Living Through Medium
OF Reciprocity With Canada-High
Protectionists Claim the Republican
Party viii Be Disrupted if Program
Is Insisted Upon.

Washington, Jan. 81. - 90 Embar
predicament in which republican mem
bers of congress have found themselves
since President Taft submitted his pro-
gram for reduction in the cost of liv-
ing through the medium of reciprocity
with Canada.
High protectionists, confident of the
sympathy of the executive, have not
hesitated to go 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
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.
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 determi-
nation to disregard mere political OBJ
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-
lieve he can not be dissuaded from
using every force at his command to
promote legislation to put the agree
ment into operation.
Kept Own Counsel.
e. ell
what arguments would be advanced by
protectionists against freedom of tariff
relations with Canada is proved by the
fact that not single member of the
WAYS and means committee of the house
or the finance committee of the senate
was apprised in advance as to what ar
ticles would be affected by the agree
ment.
His consultations were had exclusive.
" with the government trade experts
and only such of those as are believed
to be beyond political influence. In
nothing he has done since he became
president has Mr.. Taft displayed SO
much independence of spirit.
Progressive republicans are deriving
some comfort from the fact that Sena-
others of the old guard apparently were
as much in the dark as any one else
about the president IS plans.
The question has arisen how Mr.
Taft can bring about favorable action
on the argument without having the
support of one faction of his own party
in congress- Some want to know if Mr.
Taft is depending wholly upon the
known democratic support for the pro
gram.
Tariff Board Ready.
The tariff board, the bureau of sta
tistics and other bodies that are analyz
ing the economic questions involved il
the commerce of this country are ready
to fortify President Taft with any
figures he may need in carrying on {
campaign of education.
These bureaus already have prepared
much information upon the relations o.
export trade to commercial reciprocity
with Canada.
This information shows that neithe
country has any advantage in the mar
kets of Europe The United States anC
Canada can get equal prices for grain
and other products of the soil unles
one offers articles of superior quality
1t is recognized that the United State
has always found good market abroa'
for agricultural products and eve
wheat.
The preparation being made by tn
president for a contest with congress
clearly shows that something NOR
powerful than mere politics must b
used to combat him. Yet the fight
beginning to loom up as politica