The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-10-20

national capital. and since one of GU
good friends has reduced the propo
sition TO the following form, the Re
publican man feels compelled to benz
to the task. The question asked is
| What is the sentiment in Wash
ington in regard to reciprocity anC
its effect upon the next Taft can:
paign?"
Old-timers will tell you that Their,
is no such thing as sentiment il
| Washington. The national capital i.
the wax disk that acts as the record
err, and by means of proper mechan
ism it gives forth exact sounds II
| Is the country that has the sentiment
the photograph through which it Il
given voice is operated at the seal
OF the government. President Taft
may draw tens of thousands of PEG.
pie together in San Francisco, We,
many time his automobile has pass.
ed through New York avenue in
Washington, and would hardly be OBJ.
served but for the guards who follow
on their motorcycles. Nevertheless
the situation is never overlooked
here, and by devious means perfected
through long years, there can always
be secured more accurated know
ledge of the sentiment and conditions
of the country from here than from
any other point.
President Taft and his party dis
agreed upon the issue of reciprocity
with Canada, and when it passed con-
gress the Democrats claimed a full
share of credit for the measure. The
American farmer had kicked up a
big fuss, and when President Taft
had gotten as far west as Michigan on
his trip and evidently was bent on
carrying the issue of reciprocity be-
fore the people in all his speeches
then when the Canadian voters had
cried out Enthusiastically may, nay
well, there is no questioning the fact
that the regular organization listen
ing to the voice of the country
through the Washington wax cylinder
heard sweet and joyful sounds when
our Canadian neighbor emphatically
broke off all negotiations with US,
and thereby removed the issue of re-
ciprocity. Washington learns that
the Presidents tour of the country is
not producing startling results. Ev-
erywhere Mr.. Taft goes he Is being
we'll received, and his speeches are
given close attention. His talks con-
corning worldwide peace are striking
a responsive chord, particularly in
view of the daily newsw of a horrible
war in Europe. There is no denying
the existence of condition of ram
pant insurgency in a great many
states, and among the people there is
positive unrest, which the Democrats
and Progressive Republicans are as
sorting is due to the tariff. Wall
street is bitter, and 1t is not unlikely
that the money-power will "go DEM
ocratic." The country never has had
much use for the Payne-Aldrich tariff
and the Presidents defense of it has
worked more to his dis
advantage than Canadian reciprocity
or any other issue.
The ture of Mr.. Taft undoubted-
ly lays in the outcome of the strug-
giles to begin in December over the
Tariff. The people are patient, and
It is safe to say that the die is yet
TO be cast. Thoughtful men every
where are inclined to believe that
most tariff legislation has been con-
or less after the man
ner horse-trading, good deal of 1t
being along the line Of David Harums
style. President Taft is promising
he country scientific revision by
means of the work of the tariff board.
Many people are confident that he is
going to be able to make good-he
S tellign the story of his expectations
n so reasonable manner that the
people are wondering whether 1t Is
lot all going to prove true. They
ire recalling the vetoes of the special
session, are listening to the admins
also going thoroughly
,ver the complaints and remedies pro-
)osed by the Progressives. Nor are
wen the Republicans failing in pay
ng respectful attention to the case
If the Democrats.
The wax cylinder on the Washing
on photograph is playing a strange
une. 1t so nds something like: "1'll
hink about this thing" and at the
numerous headquarters of factions
Ind creeds those most closely inter-
'sted are listening attentively, In
lopes that they may catch different
train.
The senatorial party en- route for
visit to the Canal zone to inspect
he work thus far done and make
tudy of conditions there, with a
,iew to legislation for the future,
will be away three weeks. Among
he senators who are in the party are
dessrs, Brandages of Connecticut,
hartman of the committee on inter-
ceanic canals; and Cummins of Iowa,
'ristow of Kansas, Chiffon of Yves,
'irginia, Thornton Of Louisiana, Page
# Vermont and Overman of North
,arolina. The question of the proper
government of the Canal zone, when
obstruction work is completed, must
re dealt with before the work is end
d for that will be an important
hing and must be decided upon in
mple time. The relations betwewen
his government and the government
f Panama is one upon which all
- to- he al |