The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-01-31
FRICTION over RE-
C|PROC|TY DEAL
Especial to the Silver state.)

4 WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-Embar-
predicament in which Republican
members ef congress have found them
selves since President Taft submitted
his program for a reduction in the cost
of living through the medium of recip-
rocity 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 insited
upon. Insurgent Republicans, many Of
whom have become unaccustomed to
visit 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 their tariff arguments, they
fear to adopt it lest they bring upon
their heads the wrath of agricultur
lists.
President Taft appears to be about
the only one who is showing no con-
eern about the situation. He is said
to have met all arguments against the
\ agreement with determination to dis
regard mere political objections, wheth-
er they come from standpatters or in
surgents.
He believes what he has recommend
ed to be right, and he has made it
clear that so long as he continues SO
to believe he cannot be dissuaded from
using every force at his command to
promote legislation to put the agree
ment into operation.
That President Taft realized fully
what arguments would be advised by
protectionists against freedom of trade
relations with Canada is proved by the
fact that not a single member of the
ways and means committee of the
house or the finance committee of the
senate was appraised in advance as
to what articles would be affected by
the agreement.
Consults Trade Experts.
His consultations were had exclu-
sively with the government trade ex-
Iperts, and only such of those believed
to be beyond political influence. In
nothing he has done since he has been
president has Mr.. Taft displayed so
much independent spirit.
Insurgent Republicans are deriving
some comfort from the fact that Sen
ator Aldrich and Speaker Cannon and
others of the "old guard apparently
were as much in the dark as anyone
else about the president s plans.
The insurgents admit the situation is
mystifying They knew they had not
been called in during the negotiations
with Canada's representatives, and
now they learn the standpatters were
equally neglected.
The question has arisen how Presi-
dent Taft can bring about favorable
action on the agreement without hav-
ing the support of some faction OF his
own party in congress. Some want to
know if Mr. Taft is depending wholly
upon the known Democratic support
for the program.
Counts Upon People.
Those who have taken the trouble
to talk with him about the matter are
said to have been told he counted up
on the people generally, the masses
who think he is trying to lower the
cost of food to create sentiment nee
essary to induce congress to act.
There has been a great deal OF talk
of an extra session if the reciprocity
Legislation fails and it is known that
much of this talk was brought from
the Whit ehouse by men who enjoy
confidential relations with the presi-
dent.
The tariff board, the bureau of sta
tistics and other bodies are analyzlng
constantly the economic questions IN
volved in the commerce of this coun-
try, are ready to fortify President Taft
with any figures he may need IN car
irving on campaign of education.
mn .1r Dr. hau VIZ nP
much information upon the relation OF
EXPORT trade to commercial reciprocity
with Canada.
On Equal Terms.
This information shows that neither
country has any advantage in the mar
kets Of Europe. The United States and
Canada can get equal prices for grains
and other products of the soil, unless
one offers articles of superior quality
/, 1t is recognized that the United
States always has found good market
abroad for agricultural products, even
wheat, in spite of the quality grown
in Canada.
The preparation being made by the
J president for contest with congress
clearly shows that something more
J powerful than mere politics must be
} used to combat him. Yet the fight IS
beginning to loom up as political Is
sue. ;,
Some members of the senate and
house who would be expected to take
the lead for the denomination OF MT
J Taft in 1912 may now be found luxe
warm in their support If the presi-
dent should deem it incumbent upon
him to call an extra session and sub
nit the reciprocity amendment to the
! Democrats of the next house 1t is SAID
still other Republicans may become
alienated.