Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-08-21
MAY BE NO lEGISLATIoN PRIOR
TO PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN.
LEADERs IN CONGRESS SORE
OVER PRESIDENTIAL vErt
May Prevent 1aft's Plan 70 Secure Re.
vision Of Wool and Cotton Schedules
Next Observation-Disclosures May Lose
Prestige With Voters Because Of
Attitude.
Especial CORRESPONDENCE. ]

aShmgton, Aug. 21-Whether any
tariff revision legislation need be ex-
pected prior to the presidential cleo
widely discussed about the senate and
house. Not only that, but 1t is being
given no little discussion in presi-
Dental circles. Members of the cab
met. who at times get down to matters
of plain politics and ordinary econom-
les, are even talking about it.
Acute interest is given to this ques-
ton by various developments. One of
surgents and democrats in the senate
caused by the action of certain demo-
Gratis led by Bacon and Johnston OF
Alabama in uniting with the old guard
republicans and defying the demo-
cratic caucus action on the cotton bill.
Another is the vote Of the wool bill.
along with the free list bill and the
announcement Of the president that the
tariff board will be ready to report the
beginning Of next regular session on
the cost os production of wool and
woolens and cotton goods.
Taft Will Urge Revision.
1t follows. of course. that President
Taft will urge revision of the wool
and cotton schedules next December or
early next winter He will urge revi-
sion along the lines Of the tariff board
report The belief is widespread about
the capitol that the tariff boards fig
ures will be such as TO warrant heavy
reductions in both the wool and the
cotton schedules Indeed. it is we'll
known that Senator LaFollette pre-
pared his wool dill and cotton bill in
the belief that the tariff board would
report in favor Of duties lower than
ne had fixed upon.
With the president recommending
tariff revision. as to wool and cotton
and perhaps as to steel and one or
two other schedules, the problem Will
he to get congress to act on the eve
OF a presidential and congressional
campaign.
Not An Easy Problem.
This problem will not be easy. II Is
easy to perceive that the democrats,
having put the president in the posi-
ton Of blocking tariff revision. are go
ing to be loathe 10 let him escape from
that position By the enactment OF leg
islation. Even il the house passes a
WOOL bill and cotton bill. it is open to
doubt if the senate will do SO.
1t is in this connection that the split
between the democrats and insurgents
in the senate l. important. Only by
team work between them will it be
possible TO get such tariff legislation
as the president wants. unless, indeed,
he can win the regular republicans over
to support revision. 1t is hardly to be
expected that the regulars Will turn
into reductionists Of the tariff il the
tariff board makes recommendations
for heavy cutting of duties. And the
difficulty in getting insurgents and
democrats to unite will be that distrust
and suspicion has been engendered by
the break up over the cotton bill and
that the breach may prove extremely
slow Of healing
Taft May 30 Blamed.
1t has been pointed out that the DEM
ocrats who engineered the split with
the insurgents were men lake Bacon.
Johnston and Bankhead. senators who.
While from the south. are protection
democrats. 1t has not escaped atten-
ton that by causing breach with the
insurgents they have taken the best
| possible way 10 head OF tariff legis!a-
ton next session when there would be,
| If harmonious action could be secured.
! | real chance to write tariff reductions
into law.
Secretary OF War Stimson is one Of
he cabinet who urged the president
not to vote the wool bill lest he block
the way to any tariff legislation prior
to the 1912 election and thus saddle
blame on the administration. It looks
| L good deal Just now as if Mr.. Stimson
! aad correct insight into the situation.