The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-06-02
THE President
WORKING WITH
THE DEMOCRATS
Is Discussing Methods Of Par
ty Policy in Return For
Reciprocity Votes

J eAeseA.t -. sSSSsse - - W
Reciprocity Votes
AMENDMENTS WILL EnDAnGER
THE PROSPECTS Of PASSAGE
President Is Using Power Of His OF.
fec to Line Up Senators For the
Agrcement-Admits Canada ;Refus.
ed Free Meats and Flour.
Washington, June 21The war be-
tween the administration and its OPP
ponents has reached fever heat.
The crisis in the senate fight on
Canadian reciprocity: is expected to
be reached when the Democratic
farmers free list bill is offered as an
amendment to the bill carrying the
agreement into effect. That such an
amendment will be offered for the
purpose Of embarrassing the Dem
ocratic supporters Of reciprocity
seems certain. It is toward this criti-
cal contingency that President Taft
just now Is devoting his attention. He
Is holding daily conferences at the
white house In an effort to keep Re-
publican and Democratic senators
alike In line for the pact.
President Taft is certain that the
reciprocity bill will pass the senate
by comfortable majority IL It can
be brought to q final vote without
amendment. He feels that the test
for the true friends Of reciprocity
will come In dealing with the pro-
posed amendments to be offered from
the floor. Mr.. Taft recently has had
assurances that the bill will be re-
ported out Of the finance committee
without amendment and without rec
ommendation. This is what he great
ly desires.
The president feels that any amend
ment in the senate will defeat the
bill and. he believes that to be the
purpose Of some senators who have
proposed amendments. The proposed
Root, Lodge and Nelson amendments
have brought the president into sharp
conflict with these senator's, but he
regarding them.
Fully Scog1izant Of the fact that he,
must dApsn6 npon thes alpnpst nolidt
vote Of the Democrats ID the senate.
to carry the reciprocity bill through,
President Taft. has been endeavorings
to devise a means to help them out Of
the dilemma that will be presented
when they are asked to vote for or
against the free list bill as rider as
to the reciprocity measure. Some
Democratic senators have told the
president frankly that they would
vote against the free list amendment
If they could be assured that the
'standpat" Republicans would not
stifle in committee the free list bill
as it came from the house and thus
deprive the southern Democratic
senator's Of the opportunity in open
senate properly to record their votes
on the measure.
President Taft fully appreciates
the position in which the senate Dem
ocrats find themselves, but he thinks
he has found solution Of the prob
lem, He has suggested that motion
by the Democrats to discharge the
finance committee from consideration
of the free list bill and to put it upon
its passage, would serve the purpose
Of the Democrats in making their at
titude perfectly clear one and he
has further expressed confidence In
the fairness Of the American people
to recognize the purpose Of those
who would attempt the free list meth
cd of defeating reciprocity.
The plan, as outlined. has been
broadly discussed among Democratic
senator's and it is said that they be-
lieve with otherr friends Of reciproc-
hat Ia or
Of the difficulty.
Canada Declined.
In all of his talks with senators
during the past few days President
Taft has endeavored to impress the
fact that In negotiating the pact with
Canada, the United States offered to
put meats, -four, agricultural imple-
ments and shoes on the free list. Can
ada would not make like concessions.
The agreement is specific on certain
points and cannot be varied. The
races on -four, meats and shoes could
be reduced without violating the past,
It is said, but to do 90 would open up
the problem of the "most favored ma
ton" clause in treaties with other
countries. And while the United
States would get no concession from
Canada by reducing the rates, the ap-
plication Of these rates to other coun-
tries, the president holds. might let
in Argentine meat and Australian
mutton, which he believes would be
= real injury to the farmer.
The only condition in the agree
n1ent that was not absolutely
dealt with was that in reference to
print paper. The provinces Of On
tarso. Quebec and New Brunswick
closely restrict the export Of spruce
wood on the theory that the pulp and
paper should be made in Canada. The
reciprocity agreement, as negotiated,
provided that Canadian paper could
come in free only when those pro-
yincial restrictions were removed.
The house; instead Of Incorporating
THU conditional provision in the re-
cibFocity bill gave more Of conces-
sion with the idea Of inducing the
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