The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-20
BITTERLY DEN0UNCES
NEWSPAPER INFLUENCE
Tells of the Free Print Paper
Bill and Alleged Threat of
Herman Ridder.


map of the United States and Canada,
he played the role of a school master to
crowded floor and filled galleries. his
remarks followed those Of Representa-
tive Godoer. Mr.. Cannon assailed the
proposed agreement as dangerous to
American trade, inimical to the best in
terests of American farmers and certain
to result in depreciation Of American
farm lands
"Not since the war with Spain and
all that followed it has there been con
sidered by the house of representatives
so important bill as the one now pend
ing," he declared. "On the action of
the house rests the well being and the
prosperity of all the people of the Unit
ed States. Is it proper on slight con
sideration to vitalize into law an agree
mcnt that affects the prosperity OF
every home in the land?'
Mr.: Cannon declared that the treaty
had been made In secret. The country,
nothing 10 do with the preparation OF the
agreement with Canada. he said.
Came as Surprise.
mo member of this house." declared
Mr.. Cannon, had opportunity TO know
anything about IT until the house received
panied by the bill itself. that 1t was ex-
pected TO pass the measure
Mr.. Cannon reviewed the development
OF middle and western America during
the last century
Il am not an old man." he said amid
the laughter of the house. but I can re-
member when this country had but H.
600. 600 inhabitants. Now 1T has close TO
100. .000, 900
immigration and development had
brought rich new lands into cultivation.
he said. Railroads had by cheap freight
rates placed them In touch with the great
England and New York farm lands had
gone steadily down. unable to meet the
competition. The opening OF new Cana
dian lands. with American markets open
10 their produce. would have today the
same effect on the west. he believed.
Mr.. Cannon declared that the infu-
be felt as keenly in the south as else
where IL the tariff restrictions on farm
products were removed.
What is this bill going 10 do to us?'
he asked. '"They say there's no danger
10 our wheat from n market open TO
Canada. The president SAYS 1t will re-
duce due the cost Of lying Without impairins
great man: I have great respect for
him. ! voted for him and I apprehend
viii vote for him again. but / would
Ike TO see him demonstrate how IL would
not impair the farmers prices and yet
will reduce the cost Of living"
AS to reciprocity, Mr.. Cannon said he
would act on his own judgment.
THE presidents due is 10 veto my ac-
ton. not to dictate it," he declared, and
continued:
The practice has grown through many
administrations OF the president having
congress on his hands, but ] propose TO
walk in the shadow Of my own judgment.
1T Is up TO us 10 say whether we
shall continue to develop our own coun-
try from east TO west; or. without COM
pensation. throw open our markets To all
the additional products OF great new
country
rapoSo NJ ranro, oaLI 1oa ,I,,a &c
been knocking at the gates OF the United
States for entry without the tax into
American markets.
Rakes the Publishers.
\ bitter dcnunciatlon of newspaper in
nucncc I'm connection with the fight over
free print paper legislation In the last
national campaign was made by former
Speaker Cannon In connection with his
opposition 10 the Canadian reciprocity
bill.
"There has been a great deal of talk
about the price Of print paper, n good
deal of talk that has run over several
years. said Mr.. Cannon. The commit
tee on ways and means OF the sNtcth
congress- when John Sharp Williams in
troduccd his free print paper hill and II
went 10 that committee. by Il unanimous
vote. as ] am informed. postponed action
for that session OF congress and did not
even have a hearing on it.,
II was speaker. They unloaded II on
me. We had IA stormy time. Newspaper
one OF whom ! shall name, Mr.. Herman
Ridder. demanded that | should do what
never had been done before in the history
OF the rcpublic-that | should recognize
Mr.. Williams or somebody else To- rise In
his place and move 10 discharge the com
mittec from further consideration Of that
bill which they had postponed for that
session. and by the time the ncXt Ses-
sion would come the presidential election
would be over"
Mr.. Cannon said he replied that he
IL, 4 H..
To his party.
Tells What Happened.
What happened" he continued Il
was informed In the presence Of witnesses
that II tho Republican party did not
promptly put print paper upon the free
list, that great and good man who headed
the Publishers association, Mr. Herman
Riddcr, would support Mr.. BrNan FOR the
presidency and contribute 100000 to his
election.
"We did not pass it, When the time
came Mr.. Riddcr was made treasurer OF
the Democratic COMMITTEES, and guess
$50. .oOO, did he not? The newspapers say
so. and I have never seen il denied"
Mr Cannon said he introduced bin
creating special committee to investi-
gate The print paper question,
II appointed that committee and Mr..
Mann headed IT, The criticism from one
end OF the country 10 the other. by rcso-
lutions passed by the Associated Press.
by denunciations in the newspapers. was
wholly against me for that action,
THE committee made an honest invcs-
ticaton. They found q difference OF So Il
ton between the cost of production In
Canada and In tho United States 1t was
a unanimous report. the Democrats on
the committee concurrlng.
Mr. Cannon said the house adopted the
report. IL went to the senate. where
there was n compromise at $3.Io between
So which was the law and So. the amount
I'm the house bin. The difference between
the tariff board and the Mann special
committee was that Mann said 81 wouu
represent the difference. and the tariff
board said si.14 would represent the diff
ference.
'.In this bill YOU reject both of them
under this treaty and let II In free" con-
tinuod Mr.. Cannon.