The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-22
Taft DoWnCaSt
 Over Defeat Of His Pet Scheme
Canada's Pronounced Rejection of Reciprocity Has Left the President Without Issue on Which He Intended to Rest His Future
(special from United Press.)

Especial from United Press.)
 Peoria, H., Sept 22-The ghost of gloom. perched on the still corpse oI reciprocity, was the unwelcome guest on President Taft's special train when it reached here today.
 Peoria was aIblaZe with enthusiasm but the Presidential party brought It. tie enthusiasm with it. The Taft smile was replaced by an expression of sornbre seriousness and the usual light Presidential step was dull and stolid All the joy of the Taft trip was snuffed out at Kalamazoo by word that reciprocity, which the President had declared the most i'm portant act of his administration, hao been rejected by Canada. ssI had looked for a different result, said the President, mournfully, Dut it takes two to make bargain ana, of course, if Canada declines to ac- cept this agreement we must go on doing business at the same old stand I am deeply disappointed"
 Out to the west today lay the wide reaches of Iowa and Kansas. There the President must face the stalking spirit of Republican insurgency in it's stronghold. Sunday night he will be- gin the "unwinning" of the west, at Baldwin. KaS.
 But back in Kalamazoo the Presi- dent left the buried hopes of reciproc- ity, the issue upon which six months ago he offered to rest his future. Practically every insurgent voted against reciprocity in both House and Senate. What argument he is to put up to the insurgent constituencies, the fact that he carried reciprocity in this country, will be the keynote of his defense, but will it avail? These were the questions which pervaded the gloomy atmosphere of the Taft spe- cial
 Taft was confident to the last that Laurier and his allies would carry Canada for the reciprocity pact. So confident was he that he predicted at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon that the benefits of reciprocity would be real ized within IS months. The early re- turns from Canada, which indicated the downfall of reciprocity. did not worry him. But amid the bright lights and gay music of the banquet, at Kalamazoo, in his honor, his wide, winning smile disappeared into a grave, serious look as the final word came. that settled the fate of the pact. ,sk
 The principal effect of the defeat was the big consideration on the Taft train today. Nothing can be deter mined along that line, yet" declared Secretary Hflles we must wait.''
 But in the minds Of all Of the Pres ident's party doomed up the broad stretches of prairie and the long mountain ranges of the west that em brace the next 39 days of the Presi- dents trip.
 Up to today not day had passed that the Taft audiences had not clam ored for a, speech on reciprocity. and the President had declared, 'I will talk reciprocity after the Canad- ian election"
 The election. is over. Reciprocity has been defeated. Undoubtedly the demand for reciprocity speeches will continue. What the President will say in reply to the demand was the bothersome problem today. That the Presidents enemies, both in and out of the Republican party, will claim a victory in the defeat of reciprocity was certain.
 The Executive was the guest of Bishop Edmund Dunne, of Peoria, this morning. An automobile ride about the city and to the country club for luncheon, a reception by the Knights of Columbus at their club house, and a Knights of Columbus banquet at the coliseum completed the arrangements for the day.