The Washington times., 1911-01-30

Politicians, without regard to faction
or party, are putting en- their thinking
| caps as the result of the recent message
of President Taft in favor Of the Cana
dian reciprocity agreement and trans
mitting that agreement to Congress.
The more the possibilities Of the Ca
madam reciprocity agreement are stud
led the more far-reaching they appear.
These possibilities relate alike TO
great national politics and to the future
of the protective tariff system in the
United States.
Question Unsettled.
1t is a markable fact that the tariff
question was never more completely un-
settled than it is today. When. at the
close of the tariff session of this Con-
gress in August, 1909, the Payne-Aldrich
tariff measure had been passed, 1t was
widely predicted the tariff law would
not be reopened for years to come.
AS a matter OF fact. the Payne-Aldrich
law utterly failed TO dispose of the tariff
question, and now that the passage of
the law has been followed not alone by
capture of the House by the Democrats,
but by an aggressive pronouncement of
ciprocity, embodying free trade in food
products, the tariff is now a problem
more alive than ever More than this,
the establishment of tariff commission
is another phase Of the question that is
at the front.
That President Taft, in urging the
ratification of the reciprocal agreement
with Canada, has precipitated on the
country the great issue of the next
campaign, or, at least, one of them, is
widely believed in Washington today.
For some time II has been clear that
the increasing cost Of living in this
country would bring about a conflict
between the protected interests, in
which the Eastern manufacturers would
be clamoring for free foodstuffs and
raw materials and the farmers OF the
country would be protesting against
free foodstuffs and threatening retalia-
ton on the manufacturers If foodstuffs
were made free.
At the same time an immense popula-
tion in the cities and centers that feels
the pinch Of the high cost of living is
clamorous for removal of the duties on
foodstuffs.
To Crystalline the Elements.
President Taft, as many view it at
the Capitol, has tossed into a situation
already seething with warning opinions
something that will crystalline the va
rious elements. 1t is expected to COM
pei public attention to center on the
cost of living question in all its phases
more keenly than ever.
AS many view il. great crisis in the
81 nrif In
country, like unto the crisis in England
in the early '4Os, is approaching in this
country. In England the outcry against
high prices of foodstuffs led to the corn
laws, and these in turn led to free
trade. That President Taft's stand for
reciprocity has hastened the crisis in
the United States is one view which
finds expression among long-headed
politicians and statesmen in House and
Senate.
Many are asking what will be the
effect of 1t all on President Taft's po-
litical future. One view Is that 1t will
min him. Another view is that 1t will
rehabIlitate him completely and lead to
his reelection. The President has made
il clear to his friends that he went
into this thing because he believed
in Canadian reciprocity along the lines
provided for in the agreement, and
that he did not intend to be swayed
by the political danger in it.
The President told friends before he
submitted the treaty or compact to
Congress that he fully expected tre-
mendous opposition.
President Is Serious.
The Presidents attitude is not going
to be that of a man who, having turned
over the question to Congress, is now
content to sit still and await results.
This has been represented to be the
Presidents attitude, but it is not.
The President said one of his
closest friends today" was never more
serious or determined in his life. l
have discussed this matter with him.
was surprised at the intense earnest
ness he feels and expresses"
Since President Taft was, in meas
ure. flimfammed by the high tariff
leaders in Congress on the Payne-Ald-
rich tariff measure, he has been giving
more concerted thought to the tariff