The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12
Speech at Springfield Is Ap- plauded By the Presi-
 dents Hearers
BLOW IS STRUCK AT
 HIGH COST OF LIVING
Taft Tells Members of His Party That They Must Accept Reci- procity or the Protective
 Policy Is Dead

procity. In an address before q joint session of the Illinois state legislature he warned the leaders of his own party that If they should defeat the .,cnces- sions contained in the reciprocity agree ment now pending in congress and should persist in retaining, in these times of high prices and gradually exha ustng food supply, a tariff not basnG solely upon the difference In cost of production ht home and abroad with a reasonable profit 10 the American producer an opposition will be aroused that WI khow DO moderation and will wipe from ,he statute books the last trace Of a pro fectve tariff.
 This announcement came On the heels If news from Washington that tho reel rrocity agreement had met with favor able report in the House committee On ways and means only through the help of democratic votes. President Taft feels keenly the opposition to reciprocity from members of the republican party, but he Is sangiline in the hope that they will ''see the light before it is too late. He was immensely gratified by the rian~er in which his reciprocity speeches were received today especially by the ard- fence a, the state capitol. His first an- nouncement there that his therie was 10 be reciprocity called out buest of applause. Proceeding then to outline tome of the schedules of the Canadian part the President was listened to with the greatest attention.
 Taft's Views Applauded
 As he reached the summing uo of the situation the Interruptions of applause became more frequent and when he rad concluded the plaudits were fairly deaf ening and this despite the fact ttat Speaker Cannon had sent messaga f. om Washington to the legislature strongly opposing any sort of reciprocity.
 The President came to Springfield to- tay for a dual purpose. The first of these WAS to place a wreath upon the tomb of Abraham Lincoln.
 He Was the greatest citizen of your state,' said the President, and with Washington the greatest citizen of the United States Mr. Tafts second purpose was tr drive home additional arguments, in favor of
 
 came as the sequel of campaign through the forenoon at Champaign, Monticello, Decatur and at Milliken university. The crowds which greeted Mr. Taft at every step on his itinerary were the largest of any of his tours as President. The streets of Springfield were thronged as the presidential special arrived over the Ill- nois Traction trolley system.
 Guest of Congressman
 Representative Mckinley of the Cham paignDecatur district was MT Tafts guest to Decatur. Decatur to Springfield the President became MT McKinley's guest over 40 miles of the latter's inter- urhan trolley system.
 The presence of the Champaign con- gressman in the party enabled the Pres ident to make a telling point in one of his speeches. ERa declared that the picture Oz Canadian competition with the Amer lean farmer for the corn markets of the United States had been ridiculously over drawn, and that the entire Dominion pro- duced no more corn than was raised in the one Illinois congressional district rep resented by MT. Mckinley. The President also told the latters constituents that he was sure of the congressman support. Governor Deneen, Lieutenant Governor Oglesby, Speaker Adkins and a joint committee from the legislature met the President at Decatur today and helped escort him into Springfield. Arriving here, the President went directly to the cap itol From there he was driven in an automobile to the old Lincoln home. where he spent nearly an hour going over the historical collection maintained by the government. Next the President proceeded to the Lincoln tomb where with head barred he reverently placed wreath on the sarcophagus From 4 to p. m, the President held reception at the gover- nor's mansion
 Banquet at Springfield
 The banquet tonight of the Lincoln Cen iennial association was the largest ever held in Springfield. In addition to the President the speakers included Martin w. Littleton of New York. spoken of as a compromise democratic nominee for senator from that state.
 MT. Taft will leave early tomorrow morning for Washington, arriving there Monday at $40 a. m.
 MT. Taft is the first President who ever addressed an Illinois legislature.
 Speaker Adkins introduced the President and MT. Taft launched at once Into his prepared address He reviewed the tariff provisions of the Chicago platform Of 1903 and declared the conditions or produc- eon in Canada and the United States are so nearly similar that tariff based on a difference of cost as between this and other countries would amount, In the case of Canada, to substantially free trade.
 "A reciprocity agreement" said the President. lis give and take, and my Impression is that when you examine closely the pending agreement you will congratulate yourselves that we are able to make one that covered so wide range of subjects"
 Ccld>r nrrortuu;tv
 Later the President added
 we shall be blind. indeed, If we reject this golden opportunity to add to the strength and vitality of our country by thus increasing our self supporting capacities
 MT. Taft strengthened his argument in favor of reciprocity by the state nent that he hoped the new tariff Boards work would result in a further oevision of the schedntes of the Payne Aldrich law. In conclusion the Pres odent said:
 We have taken up those things that are involved in a Canadian reciprocity treaty because opportunity offered. Now Is the accepted time. Now Canada Is in the mood. She Is at the parting of the ways. Shall she be an isolated country as much sepavated from us az if she were across the ocean or shall her people and our people pront by tho proximity that our geography fur nishes and stimulate the trade across tho border that nothing but useless,
 
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