Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-02-02
Plan to Cut Cost Of Living
by Reciprocity Ex-
cites Congress.
EXECUTIVE STANDS PAT
Protectionists See Disruption
Of Party--- Taft Ignores
kaA Political Objections.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. l.
Embarrassed is mild word to define
the predicament in which republican
members of congress have found them
selves since President Taft submit
ted his program for reduction in
the cost of living, through the medium
of reciprocity with Canada.
High protectionists, confident of
the sympathy of the executive, have
not hesitated to go to the White
House with predictions that the par
ty will be disrupted if the program
is insisted upon. Insurgent republi-
cans, many of whom have become
unaccustomed to visit the White
House at all, have been pursuing the
policy of silence.
While some of them are ready to
admit that the proposed agreement
is in line with the tariff arguments
'hSS lCoi w duopI IL icot tie. uiiHS
upon their heads the wrath of agri-
culturalists. President Taft appears
to be about the only one who is show
ing no concern about the situation
He is said to have met all arguments
against the agreement with deter
mination to disregard mere political
objections whether they come from
standpatters or insurgents.
Taft Firm in Belief
He believes what he has recon-
mended to be right and he had made
it clear that so long as he continues
so to believe he cannot be dissuad-
ed from using every force at his
command to promote legislation to
put the agreement into operation.
That President Taft realized form
erly what arguments would be advanc-
ed by protectionists against freedom
of tariff relations, with Canada is
proved by the fact that not a single
member of the ways and means COM
mittee of the house, or the finance
committee of the senate, was apprised
in advance as to what article would
be affected by the agreement.
His consultations were had exclu-
sively with the government trade ex-
perts and only such of those believed
to be beyond political influence. In
nothing he has done since he has
been President has Mr.. Taft display
ed so much Independent spirit.
insurgents Mystified, Too
Progressive republicans are deriv-
ing some comfort from the fact that
Senator Aldrich and Speaker Cannon
and others of the "old guard" appar-
emily were as much in the dark as
any one else about the Presidents
plans.
The progressives admit the situa-
ton is mystifying. They know they
had not been called in with Canadas
representatives and now they learn
tho standpatters were equally neglect
ed.
The question has arisen how Mr.
Taft can bring about favorable ac-
ton on the agreement without hav-
ing the support of some faction of
his own party in congress Some
want to know if Mr.. Taft is depend
ing wholly upon the known democrat
support for the program.
Appeals to People.
Those who have taken the trouble
to talk with him about the matter
are said to have been told he count
ed upon the people generally, the
masses who think he is trying to
lower the cost of food, to create senti-
ment necessary to induce congress
to act Political leaders are wonder
ing if he will tell what he intends
to do if the present congress fails
to act on the agreement
There has been a great deal of talk
Of an extra session If the recipro-
city agreement fails and it is under
stood that much of this talk was
brought from the White House by
men who enjoy confidential relations
with the President.