Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-27
PRESIDENT GIVES
DEMOCRATSCREO|T.
Says Campaign for Reciprocity
Would Have Failed without
Their Aid.
DID NOT "PLAY POLITICS"
Taft Has High Praise for Men
Who Framed the Pact-Was
a Non Partisan Meas
IRE, He Says.
DID NOT "PLAY POLITICS"

Beverly, Mass, July 23--In the first
statement he has made since the pas.
sage of the reciprocity bill by the Sem
ate. President Taft tonight freely ac-
knowledged that his campaign in be-
half Of that measure would have proved
unavailing If the democrats had not
helped HIM. without such aid. the
President declared. reciprocity would
have been Impossible"
The democrats did not play politics
IN the colloquial sense in which those
words are used" said the President,
"but they followed the dictate of a
higher policy"
For Secretary Knox and his assist
ants IN the state department who con-
auctcd the negotiations and framed
The pact the President said more than
word of praise. Those republicans,
he said, who fought for reciprocity,
and some of whose votes We're neces-
sary to the passage of the bill may
properly enjoy mutual Fluctuations on
work well done"
The President declared he believed the
agreement would mark an epoch in the
TtidllCuS between lne nlle0 states ana
Canada and those who opposed the bill
IN Congress would find their prophecies
d.sproved and fears allayed by its actual
operation. Its passage by the Canadian
Parliament. the last step before it be-
comes a bond between the two countries,
he hoped and believed would be forth
coming.
SATISFACTION WILL SECURE PER-
MANENCE.
THE satisfaction that actual expert
ence in its working will give he said.
we confidently hope will secure its per-
ranence. In decade It's benefits will
contribute much to greater United
States and greater Canada"
The President arrived at "Parramatta"
the new Taft cottage shortly after eight
o'clock this morning, motoring out from
Iiostcn in just an hour. Mrs. Taft, Miss
Helen Taft and Charles, his youngest
son. We're waiting and he had breakfast
with his family for the first time since he
left Beverly for the West on July 2.
ON the way from Washington the Pres-
dent had time for long chat with Sena-
tor Penrose, who lee the fight for
reciprocity; with secretary of the
Treasury MacNeagh and Secretary Hilles.
Mr.. Pcnrose left him at Philadelphia,
Secretary Hilles al Newark, y. j., and
Mr.. MacNeaEh deserted the party at Bos-
ton. The President had been thinking
about n statement, however and after
sleeping over 1t" as he put It to-day.
decided that II should be written and
that credit should be given where credit
was due.
With Mrs Taft and the children, he
nOfOrp1 miles IN m
Robert Collyer Of New York preach at
the First Unitarian Church. Lunch over.
n stenographer was called in, and the
statement was dictated, the President re-
sorting to the first person unusual in
statements from the White House that
it might appear more truly his own The
statement reads:
WILL MARK NEW EPOCH
THAT ! am very much pleased with
the passage Of the Canadian reel
procity bill through both houses of
Congress goes without saying. be-
licve and hope it will be followed by
similar action by the Dominion Parlia-
mont In my judgment, the going into
effect of the agreement will mark a
now epoch in the relations between
the United States and Canada and it
will tend to n marked increase in the
trade between the two countries. which
viii he in every way beneficial to both
81 hope the credit that belongs to
Secretary Knox and his special as
Sistants ut the state department, in
the negotiating and framing of tho
ract and their lucid explanation and
defence of its terms. will not he with
hold.
In sense, the bill passed was a non
partisan measure though the republicans
who voted for it probably did so on ono
economic theory and the democrats who
voted for it on another. | should be want
Ing in straightforward spea king however
II did no. freely acknowledge the credit
that leiungs to the democratic majority
in the House and the democratic minority
in the Senate for their consistent support
of the measure, in an earnest ana sincere
desire to secure its passage Without
this reciprocity would have been imposes
ible. II would not have been difficult for
them TO fasten upon the dill amendments
rffccting the tariff generally in such n
way as to embarrass the executive and
20 make 1t doubtful whether he could
sign the bill ana yet to claim popular
approval for their support of reciprocity
In its defeat, In other words the demo-
Gratis did not play politics in the colo
quail sense in which those words are
used, but they followed the dictates Of
q higher policy.
I'VE republicans who have earnestly
sought reciprocity and some of whose
votes were necessary to the passage of
the bill may properly enjoy mutual felici-
tatons on work well done. To those
who opposed the bill, on the ground that
T. will do harm to the farmers we can
only say that we who have supported the
passage of the bin look forward to the
test Of the actual operation of the reci-
IrOcity agreement to disprove their
prophecies and to allay their fears. The
satisfaction that actual experience in its
working will give we confidently hope
viii secure its permanence. In decade
It's benefits will contribute much to a
greater United States and greater Can
eda.'