Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-17
Maine Representative Firm
Against Reciprocity.
Sees Wreck Of National Pros
perity Through Farmers.
wordy Address by Claude Kitchin,
One Of the Democratic Leaders.

Washington, April 16.-The opening
arguments for and against the Cana
| dian reciprocity bill were made in the
House today. in two striking speeches.
Claude Kitchin of North Carolina, one
of the leading Democratic speakers,
addressed the House for three hours in
favcr of the measure, a-raigning the
Republican argument of protection for
the farmer. and characteriZng it as
'hunbug." Following him, Asher c..
Hinds Of Maine, for 16 years the par
liamentary clerk of the House. made
his first speech as a new member of
that body, and expressed himself as
opposed to the treaty.
The treaty, he said, threatened the
national prosperity in threatening to
take from the farming communities
the protection of their products neces-
sary to their welfare and develop
ment.
1t was a day full of interesting de-
bate and incident. Mr.. Kitchin, skill
full in repartee, was frequently inter-
rupted with applause He strobe up
and down the main aisle of the hall,
arraigning the leaders on the Repub-
lican side who have fought for their
protection principles Particular at
tentlon was paid by him to Repre-
sentative Dalzell. Of Pennsylvania He
pictured President Taft as coming to
the Democrats on bended knee to So
licit their support. The success Of
the Presidents desire for reciprocity
with Canada depended upon the Dem
ocrats. he said.
"Oh my friends" said Mr. Kitchin,
chow tn" viccissitudes of American
politics humilidte the pride of even a
President, We We're impossible OBJ
structionists, and we utterly failed in
anything that was sensible; and yet
before that libel upon a great political
organization is cold upon his lips, the
desperate necessities of a discredited
administration send this President on
bended knees, begging before this DEM
ocratic majority"
interruptions by Insurgent Repubri-
can members injected much interest
ing debate into the speech. Mr. Kitch-
in was asked if he would vote for free
lumber, free sugar, less Profession on
cotton goods. and like reductions in
the tariff.
II will vote for free lumber" said
Mr.. In Toilette of Washington, whom
Mr., Kitchin had charged with repre-
senting the lumber interests. 'if you
will vote for free sugar"
'All right" said Mr. Kitchin, "I'H
vote for both of them"
will You vote to put all trust-con-
troll@d articles on the free list?" de-
manded Mr.. Lenroot of Wisconsin.
Yes" said Mr.. Kitchin. land with
in four or five days We will bring in a
free list bill that will give you all that
opportunity"
Mr. Kitchin expressed pleasure at
seeing the insurgents dancing around
the fires with the distinguished stand
patters of protection, singing hosannas
aad hallelujahs to the farmer
The speech by Mr.. Kinds was followed
with close attention by the House for an
hour and a half 1t was the first speech
by the man who had served the House in
an intimate capacity for many years, and
showed deep research and a grasp of the
history of American legislation. Mr.
Kinds said that the statesmen of Ger
many. France and Great Britain had rec
ognized the necessity for the maintenance
of protection on the products of the farm;
and that if Congress enacted the recproc-
ity bill it would be going against the best
judgment of the leaders of all the eoun-
tries.
when the manufacturers fails" said
Mr. Kinds, everyone knows it. Smoke
ceases in the tall chimneys. But when
the farmer fails smoke does not cease be-
cause on the hearth below burns the only
staIwart fire of the race
The reciprocity debate will be taken up
again Monday and will continue through
long sessions Monday and Tuesday.