Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-02
SENATE VETERANS
NOT CONSULTED
ReSentfuI Because Taft Did Not
Ask Their Advice About
Reciprocity.
CORRESPONDENT EXCLUDED
Tries to Thrash Representative Who
Had MaIfsned HIm-Lobbying for
Location of Next Presidential
Conventions Started by
Several Cities.
Bv GEORGE CLINTON.

By GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington - President Taft has
been told seriously that one of the
reasons why there is objection in the
senate on the part of many Of the
members to give consideration to re-
ciprocity at this session, is that he
had declined to call any of the party
leaders into conference when, under
his direction, the American comm5s-
sioners were arranging the terms on
the trade agreement with the Cana
dams.
There are a great many old men
in the senate, men old in years ana
old In the service. Those of them who
have been Republicans all their lives
and who have been in the senate as
representatives of that party for so
many years that they have forgotten
when they came to Washington, have
not denied that they think a Re-
publican administration ought to have
consulted them on reciprocity, and
neither do they make NAL of feel
ing of resentment.
The president in his efforts to get
his reciprocity legislation through has
not neglected any conciliatory means.
He told Senators Crane and Carter
and some others who were trying to
get his Canadian agreement through
the senate that they must impress
on the injured" senators the fact
that he was bound to keep the terms
of the Canadian agreement secret IN
til it was time to make 1t public. 1t
Is known that the Canadian commits
sioners informed the American ad-
ministration that premature publica-
ton of the details would cause trouble
in Canada.
Republicans Deny Party Split.
So far as the house vote on reci-
procity is concerned, it was shown
that the Republicans were pretty
nearly evenly divided on the advisa-
bility of adopting the compact. This
division of thought and action has led
to repeated statement that the party
is irretrievably split o. the subject
of tariff legislation. The Republicans
say that this is untrue and that on
a plan for general tariff legislation
proposed by the Democrats the Re
publicans will be found to be virtually
unit in opposition.
President Taft has said that he paid
no attention to parties in arranging
the Canadian compact. He says he
thought only of the general good Of
the country and that he considered it
matter which was above party. The
Democrats see hope for themselves in
the Republican division on reciprocity
and a Republican administration sees
hope for it's party on the general
support which it seems to believe the
country has given the measure, and
upon it's belief that when reciprocity
has been working for six months, if
it gets a chance to work, it will be
found to be beneficial to all classes of
people, including agriculturists. On
this proposition of benefit to the farm
ing industry, however, there is wide
diversity of opinion in Washington
and if reciprocity becomes a law there
will be months of waiting before it
is proved which Of the schools of
opinion is right in it's present thought
on the subject.
Why La Toilette Is Silent.
Senator La Toilette has made few
speeches during the present session.
This fact has been commented on con-
siderably in official and in party cir
cles in Washington. 1t is perfectly
true that at all former sessions the
Wisconsin senator has had much to
say, but his silence this year, it is
generally believed, is to be put down
to the fact that his physicians ad-
vised him to take it fairly easy this
winter. Mr.. La Toilette seemingly is
in the best of health, but he under
went an operation some time ago
which 1t seems made it imperative
that he should rest for a while. 1t is
said that he is now virtually cured of
his old ailment.
Some of the Washington gossips
say that in the Wisconsin mans ST..
lence there Is desire not to commit
himself just at present upon any of
the great subjects before congress, be-
S1OoO AO AC1o pI SS4ucLlIdI
and he wants to avoid any danger of
putting his foot in it." This word
On the situation is discounted by the
senator's friends. 1t is generally con-
ceded in Washington that Mr.. La
Toilette will be a candidate at the
next Republican national convention
against Mr.. Taft for high nomination
honors. There is great deal of in
terest in the position he will take
on reciprocity, for on this subject the
will break his winters silence.
Correspondent Resents Abuse.
Recently the house of repre-
sentatives adopted a resolution ex-
Guiding one of the Washington news
paper correspondents from the priv
ileges Of the house for ten days. This
action was taken because after a rep
resentative making a privileged speech
from the floor, had called the CORE
spondent wart, liar and various
other things, the malinged one went
On the floor of the house and attempt
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IITTI : CHI WANTED NpEcc