The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-25
Taft Will Be Nominated But Support Is Not
 Enthusiastic
NOT CONSISTENT IN
 TARIFF ATTITUDE
Congressman Dent Discusses Situa- tion-Senate Situation Is Epoch Making-Plans for Gadsden
 Public Building
By WALTER HARPER

Washington, June 24.-(Sp ecial.)- The political situation in Washington
 today is most interesting. Democratic
 leaders are enthusiastic over the pros
 poets for the capturing of not only the
 legislative machinery of the govern
 ment but the presidency as well in 1912. 1 combination of conditions seems
 to be hourly shaping the chances for
 democratic success. President Taft in
 speech at Providence yesterday said: | We must recognize that the time of l the Chinese wall is gone and the time | is gone when an industry must ask | for more protection than 1t absolutely needs"
 This expression from the President is certainly not very pleasing to the re- publican protectionists. MT. Taft al- ready has the positive opposition of the insurgent republicans MT Taft has no avowed defenders in the House and none that are enthusiastic in the Sen ate. Senator Lodge is perhaps his best political friend in the Senate and he lacks much of being enthusiastic. It is safe to say that MT. Taft is weaker today than before he gave ut terance to the Providence sentiment. That Mir. Taft will be the nominee of the republican party seems to be a settled fact, but his support cannot be enthusiastic.
 It is recalled by men in both parties that MT. Taft has not been entirely | consistent in his tariff religion. He not only signed the Payne bill, but he later indorsed it as the best tariff measure that has ever been framed Later he comes to criticise 1t and now declares that the Chinese wall" must be piled down.
 Not Entirely Consistent | It is being pointed out now that tht i safe course for the President to hay, l taken would have been not to hay,
 signed the Payne bill as was done b.
 President Cleveland, who could not in
 dorse the Wilson bill but allowed i i to become law without his signatur,
 or indorsement Mir Cleveland said oi
 the Wilson bill that It had defects, but at the time and he would allow it to become law without his signature. But Mir. Taft pursued an opposite course. He not only signed the Payne bill, but followed 1t with verbal indorsement of an extravagant nature and then when he sees the handwriting the wall de- Fclares that his party principles are wrong and that 1t must turn about. Altogether he has lost the support of both factions of his party and yet 1t is | believed that the party will have to ac- | cept him as the only logical nominee of | the party for 1912.
 1 There is no mistaking the fact that the | republican leaders in Congress are losing courage.
 | Congressman Dents Views Congressman S. H. Dent of Alabama, discussing the situation today, said: "rhe
 prospects for democratic success in all
 branches of the government are grow
 ing brighter every day. l believe now
 that we will make clean sweep of the
 board The republicans are demoralzed
 and split among themselves in such a
 way that they can never get together for | the enthusiastic support of MT. Taft or any other man. The regulars, of course will not support MT DaFollette. The In
 surgents will not give hearty support tc Mr. Taft and now that MT. Taft has
 shown such giaring inconsistency on the tariff question he is losing the friend | ship of the stand-patters.
 "The democrats have only to carry ou | their promises to the people conserva | lively but firmly sit steady in the boa | and keep up courage.
 | .tIt seems almost certain now that con- | gress will remain in session until final action is taken on all the tariff schedules Of course the final result of the votes on the reciprocity measure, the free list bill and schedule K, now before the senate
 will determine the course to be pur- | sued in the future, but it looks now like we have things shaped as they | should be and that entire revision Of ] the tarirf will be easy and necessary"
 Situation in Congress I want to whisper a secret into the | ear of my Alabamta friend who leads | from day to day. the simple life and never worries his brain with the compli- | cations of politics and the higher arts of human deception.
 This game of politics as viewed from | the gallery of the United States Congress | is what Sherman said war is But as a sport it beats football and bull-fghting all | hollow.
 | If you can keep up with the moves il
 is more fascinating than horse racing or poker It has all the tragedy thrills ot | pugilism without the actual bloodshed | though political life and death are always 1 involved.
 For the last few days I have beer watching a political game in the United States Senate that has had no equal fol many years. Speaker Clark of the House looking on from a safe distance. declares | that the situation in the Senate following | the coalition between the democrats anc
 the insursent republicans is one of the
 most interesting in the history of American politics It has such far-reaching DO
 litical possibilities.
 Here is the situation: The democrat, | in the Senate want to pass the Canadian | reciai ocity bill as 1t was sent over iron l the House, without amendment The | President wants the bill passed this way
 and may not sign it if it is amended. | The republican insurgents in the Sen
 ate want to defeat the reciprocity meas
 Lre A small contingent of democrats, leC hy Bailey of Texas, smypathze with tn,
 LaFollette insurgents.
 When the wooen schedule of the tariff
 came over from the House Wednesda,
 the insurgents saw chance to quee the reciprocity scheme and embarrass tn, President, who is bitterly dislked by La Toilette and his followers. They support cd Gore in his resolution demanding tha the finance committee report back tn
 woolen schedule with the farmers ire list bill not later than July 10 This sup l --~---
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