The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-12-28
DEMOCRATS ARE
FOR FREE WOOL

0SoAAAAS sANS AAO0S|
Will Enter Into Presi-
Dental Nomination
Washington. pec. 2S.---The issue of
free wool was not downrd by the
Democrats at the last session of con-
gress. 1t developed last night that it
again will have to- he faced in the
house of representatives. A vigorous
sentiment exists III the ways M
means committee for it. h extends
to the floor of the house. and finds
outside support in the person of Will
liam ]. Bryan.
The decision of the majority mem
hers of the ways inc means commit
tee to the consideration of tho
wool schedule again forces upon the
committee the question of free raw
materials. II compels a settlement
before the new hill. reising schedule
h. can he reported to the house.
Representative Harrison of New
York. 4 member of the ways II
means committee. said yesterday that
he had nto abated in the slightest de-
gre" his conviction in favor of free
raw wool. and that when the consid-
Grafton OF schedule X is taken up in
the committee he would use every
raw wool duty. He will he actively
a assisted by Representative kitchin Of
North Carolina: Ollie James of Ken
tucky, II other members of the COM
mittec who are opposed to any duty
whatever on the raw product AS Il
matter OF Democratic principle.
\ pronounced majority Of the
1ASSNp4.>~utt sNNo 80. l-r, - A. ,,,n,,o o.,l
means committee aver frcc raw wool.
At the last session of congress-. when
the wool bill was in committee. all
the early voters We're recorded en-
phatically i'll favor of free raw wool,
hi: Chairman Underwood and his ad-
herents finally had their a and Sc
cured a majority for d revenue
duty"
Compromise Resolution adopted.
The issue was carried to the caucus,
where Mr.. Underwood and the then
majority was sustained. A compro-
mise resolution. however. was pre-
scented by Eeprcst ntativc Kitchin. and
adopted. 1t was to the effect that the
bill carried d duty or raw wool only
because of the evenue necessity. This
resolution healed what threatened to
he a serious party breach. and the
Democratic caucus having agreed that
raw wool should have a duty. Mr..
Underwood felt free to continue the
same principle throughout the franz
ing of bills affecting the revision Of
ether schedules.
1t is declared by several members Of
the ways and e committee tina
the advantage which accrues to the
consumer through free raw wool far
%outweighs any revenue necessity, and
that. before what Is regarded by some
Democrats as protection under the
guise of a emu duty can be placed
In the new wool bill. another tryout
will have to he had in committee and
Democratic caucus.
New Wool Bill DELAYED.
h delay in the printing of the
tariff board report and the time neces-
sary for a close scrutiny of the data
contained therein throws the new Wool
bill of the committee over for at least
a month.
BY that time W. J.. Bryan, who is in
Kingston. Jamica, will be in the
United States. and in close touch with
the situation. The Nebraskan is billed
to speak here at the Democratic BAN
quet on Jackson's day. January 8. and
that he will find it convenient to lin
ger in WASHINGTON and take up the
cudgels for free raw wool. Should
he do SO there is a conviction that he
will not be satisfied with a p%erfunctorv
resolution lodging the issue, but will
be insistent that the caucus uphold
the free raw wool Democratic doc
trine.
To Hold Caucus Next Month.
A Democratic caucus will be held
early next month to discuss the steel,
chemicals. and sugar schedules. bills
for which practically are completed,
as we'll as economy and other matters
Of a general legislative nature. In
some quarters the suggestion is looked
idea be then voted down before the
Nebraskan car obtain time to renew
his propaganda in favor of it.
The action of the ways and means
committee at the last session in plac-
ing a duty on raw wool was the open
ing wedge in the fight between Mr..
Bryan and MIR. Underwood. culmin-
ating in the Alabama's taking the
moor and d~enouncing Mr.. Bryan as a
falsifer. Mr. Bryan, in the course of
an interviewer. had declared Mr.. I'm
derwood tainted with protection. and
opposed to tho Immediate revision,
and steel schedule by reason of his
personal interest in Birmingham steel
properties. The Nebraskan went on
to liken MIR. Underwood's action in
putting a duty on raw wool to a
camel's nose. adding. the animal is
trying to enter the tent" Mr.. I'm
derwood did not mincc words in his
reply on the floor of the house. and
these still is more ON both
sides of the controversy.
Sec UndcrWOOd's Victory.
Among Democratic members of the
house. who discussed the matter YES
tcrday. there is A belief that Mr.. I'm
derwood again will be upseld by the
committee. and, il necessary, by a
Democratic caucus. in his desire to
place Il duty on raw wool. 1t IL point
ed out by the advocates Of a revenue
tariff that the condition OF the treas.
ury ts worse now than 1t was when
the bill was framed last sum-
mer, n II q duty on raw wool was
necessary then. it Is even more so a,
the present time.
There is a distinct following OF
Democrats In the house. however. who
regard the tariff on raw wool as thu
most ubiquitous feature Of the entire
tariff system--purely a tax on clothes
the cheaper the clothes the greater
} the tax-and they believe his tax
should be wiped out Immediately
This view again will be urged upor
the ways and means committee ant
chanpiOned by MIR. Bryan in his usua
forccful amer.
Underlying differences over the raw
wool tax ome the question of presi
dental politics. a united front in tn,
house is regarded as absolutely neces
sary for Democratic victory next year
Speaker Clark and Mr.. UnderwoU,
are aware that they are eliminate,
as presidential candidates if there |
1 m -~ltk $780,