Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-05-26
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
BY CLYDE H. TAVENNER.

tnat practically every farmer in the land
is against reciprocity, the fact is that the
recent wonderful growth of public senti-
ment in favor of reciprocity started with
farmers organizations and the agricultural
press of the nation.
Congressman Ralph W. Mass, of Indiana.
farmer himself, and one of the best friends
OF the agriculturists occupying seat in
the halls of Congress, established this fact
beyond successful contradiction in strong
speech delivered on the floor of the House.
Mr.. Moss cinched his point by representing
the actual resolutions in which the great
organizations of farmers pledged them
selves to work for reciprocity.
THE great national movement among
the farmers of the United States to advance
reciprocal legislation began, said Mr.. Moss,
with meeting held in the Grand Pacific
hotel in Chicago in 1905. There were pre-
sent at the meeting delegates representing
the National Live Stock Association, Anne
rican Short Horn Association, National
Live Stock Exchange, Miller's National Fed
Grafton, and other great producing and
exporting interests.
1T was decided to hold national con-
ference to advance reciprocal tariff legisla-
ton. Alvan H. Saunders was chosen as
the leader of the movement. Who is A.
h. Saunders He is member of the tariff
board appointed by President Taft. Mr.
Saunders was at that time the editor of
the Breeders Gazette, the most influential
and widely read farm journal in the United
States. Mr.. Saunders issued signed state
ment as to the purpose of the conference.
He declared his willingness to cooperate,
with the specific understanding that the
interests of the farmers and stock growers
should be paramount
"'It is time, declared Mr.. Saunders in
his signed statement, that somebody
should take up the cudgel against those
who, for selfish purposes, destroyed Blaine's
reciprocity conventions, and are still bar
ring the American stockmen and grain
growers from large and lucrative outlet
for their goods. The ight for better markets.
worth unknown millions per year to the
farming communities. will not be won in
a week or month. 1t means a battle
royal against intrenched power, but it will
be won because it is right"
Mr.. Moss went on to show that the con-
ference was attended by more than 900
delegates, representing every principal az
ricultural organization in the nation, and
that at the close of the meeting the follow
ing resolution was passed:
THAT we recommend that permanent
organization be formed under the style of
the Reciprocal Tariff League, and that a
committee of IS be appointed to organize
and further the work for which this con-
vention was assembled"
Mr.. Moss expressed his belief that when
reciprocity could be put directly to the real
farmers of the country, it would develop
that they are for 1t, and that the alleged
hostility of the farmer exists principally in
the minds of the paper manufacturers and
lumber barons.
A LOOPH0LE For TRUSTS.
Two bills intended to deprive the Su-
preme Court of the power it recently
assumed to read the word reasonable
into the antitrust law. indicate the strong
protest in Congress against the decision of
the court weakening the antitrust statute.
The bills were introduced by Senators Gull
berson, Of Texas. and Reed. of Missouri,
both Democrats.
Senator CulbersOn's bill consists of a
printed copy Of the Sherman act with three
words inserted into Sections | and 2, the
words being 'of whatever character. II
The effect would be to prohibit all COM
binatiOns, conspiracies in restraint of trade,
all monopolies, all combinations tending
toward monopoly "Of whatever character.
In the Texas Senator'S opinion this change
would effectually restore the prohibitions
of the antitrust law to just where they
were before the recent decision was handed
down.
1t Is cOntended by many members of
Congress, whose voting records show them
to be alert for the interests of the people
the ruling of the Supreme Court places in
the antitrust law loOphOle for trusts and
combinations to get through on the ground
that they are not unreasonably restrictive
of trade.
That the Sherman law will be restored
to where ii was before the decision was
announced is highly probable.
FARMERS FRIENDS" SLEEPING.
The farmers free list bill is blockaded in
the United States Senate. Unless strong
pressure is brought to bear there is danger
that the bill will die in committee.
Yet the interests that are supplying
money to fight reciprocity, which interests
are working overtime prOclaimng their
friendship for the farmers and asserting
they oppose reciprocity solely because they
feel for the farmers, have not as yet
raised their voices against the blockade of
the free list bill.
Query If the interests fighting reci-
procity are really and in fact such great
friends of the farmers, why are they in
different over the fate Of bill which will
untax nearly everything the farmers use
DEMOcRATIc SENATE PROBABLE.
II the next Presidential election is car
ried by the Democrats, il is practically
certain they will also control the Senate.
Should the Republicans elect the President,
there is still the possibility Of Democratic
control in the Senate.
The substitution of four Democrats for
as many Republicans would make the
Senate a tie; II the Democrats held the
Vice Presidency. they would therefore con-
troll the Senate.
These Republicans face prospects Of be-
ing succeeded by Democrats Briggs. of
New Jersey, Brown, Of Nebraska, Curtis,
of Kansas. Dixon. of Montana, Frye. of
Maine, Gamble, of South Dakota. and Ken
y0n. of Iowa.
L0RIMER To BIZ RE-INvEsTIGATED.
That the election Of United States Sena-
tor William LOrimer, Of Illinois. shall again
be investigated, and that new investiga-
ton assures his almost certain election
from the Senate, Is the prevailing opinion.
Sentiment for the new investigation was
brought 10 a head by the report Of the
Helm investigating committee In Spring
field. which found that LOrimer had been
elected by bribery and corruption.
Warning TO Railroad Men.
T.. S. Bacon, ii Bast street, Bath. Me-,
a Ill A