The Detroit times., 1911-02-04
Democratic Leader Comes Out Strong
For Genuine Reciprocity With All
Nations, Especially Canada and
South America.
Wants Tariff Revised Downward,
But Is Opposed To Commission
That Fixes Rates.
BY gibson GARDNER.

Here follow 10 answers by Hon.
! Champ Clark, leader OF the Democrats
In congress and speaker OF the next
house OF representatives, To questions
on these most important subjects.
Here they are:
Now that the Democratic caucus
has chosen the ways and means com
mittee OF the next house, what will II
do?
The selection OF the Democratic
contingent OF the ways and means
! committee on Jan. 10, more than nine
| months in advance or the beginning
OF the first regular session OF the
/ sixty-second congress, is a long step
In expediting the remodeling or re-
vision or reduction OF the tarin 10
which we stand pledged. Therefore
the members OF the ways and means
! committee will at once go 10 work TO
accumulate information on which to
base the bill or bills which they VIII
introduce. Those papers which have
been charging that | want 10 delay
tariff revision are misrepresenting me.
The caucus of Jan. 10 was the first
step toward Fastening tariff revision,
| and that caucus was called on my
|
that the members OF the ways and
means committee will do all In their
power TO get into action as soon as
possible and thereby hasten the re-
demption of Democratic promises on
the subject of the tarin.
What kind OF tariff revision does
the character OF this committee
spell?
The character OF the committee Is
guarantee that Democratic promises
OF revision downward will be re-
deemed so far as the committee can
redeem them.
Favors Extra Session.
Would you like to see President
Taft call an extra session?
Personally. would like to see an
extra session OF congress early IN
March; but President Taft is the on
ly person who can call one. So Ear
he has given no intimation OF doing
so.
What would be the advantages or
disadvantages of having an extra SEES
sion2
The advantage OF an extra session
would be that We would get at tarfn
revision and other remedies at the
earliest possible date: the disadvant-
age is that We would not be SO we'll
prepared at the earlier date.
Why do you not favor tarin COM
mission?
I am opposed TO tariff commission
which undertakes TO hx rates, De-
cause the constitution expressly pro-
yides that revenue bills must origin
ate i'm the house and that power can
not be delegated: but ! am not OPP
posed to a tariff board or agency 10
collect facts and report them to the
house. Democrats do not object TO
obtaining information from any
source. or any subject, through any
channel, Just so it 10 reliable.
will the ways and means commit
tee have sufficient data TO warrant I'M
mediate action on any scheouie OF tns
Payne-Aldrich bill?
The ways and means committee
has information enough, or could
secure II In few days, to frame Diils
on one or two schedules.
Do you prefer the acknowledgements
ule, instead OF the entire-bill revision
plan? Briefly. why?
prefer the schedule-by schedule
system because IL reduces the chances
OF log-rolling and swapping to the
minimum.
What will be the measure OF the
tariff recommended by the Democrats!
Better ask the members OF the
committee on ways and means.
About what would the tariff-for-rev-
enue plan do to the wooden schedule;
to the cotton schedule; to the steel
schedule?
Better ask the members of the
committee on ways and means.
Is there any reason TO believe that
combination Of the Progressives and
the Democrats in the senate would
not insure the passage OF a genuine
tariff revision bill?
IL Is TO be hoped that a combina.
ton OF Democrats and Progressive
Republicans in the senate may be
formed TO pass the house tarif bills.
| Not Candidate For President
Are you a candidate for president?
am not a candidate for president;
but I am not fool enough to decline
a nomination that has not been Offer
| ed me. At present ] am putting In
my time preparing to discharge the
onerous and important duties OF the
high position for which | have been
unanimously nominated. Ny own fu.
ture, aud TO a large extent the future
OF the Democratic party, depends up
| on the manner In which the house or
the sixty.second congress acquits IT.
self.
why should Taft not be continued
In the Office?
Neither President Taft nor any 9th
er Republican should he elected In
| 1912, because Republican policies are
bad.
What IL the fundamental difference
between the Democratic and the Re.
publican party?
The fundamental difference between
Republicans and Democrats is that
the Democrats represent and believe
In the masses. while the Republicans
represent and believe In the classes
What kind OF n man ought the
Democrats nominate for president?
The Democrats should nominate q
Democratic Democrat
DO you believe In the initiative
the referendum. the recall. corrupt
|" NM q,