Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-30
President Taft Alone
Seems UnCOnCerned
As to Action on The Reel
procity Agreement.
Strong Opposition Developing
Among Republicans.
President May Make Known
Plans Tonight al Banquet.

Washington. Jan. % Embarrassed
is mild word to define the pred,ca-
ment in which Republican members Of
Congress have found themselves since
President Taft submitted his program
for a reduction in the cost Of living
through the medium of commercial rec
iprocity with Canada.
High protectionists, confident Of thc
Sympathy Of the Executive. have not
hestated to go to the White House
with predictions that the party will be
disrupted if the program is insisted up
on Insurgent Republicans. many Of
whom have become unaeeustomed to
go to the White House at ALL have
been pursuing the policy Of silence.
While some of them are ready to adj
NIT that the proposed agreement is in
line with their tariff arguments in the
past they fear to adopt II lest they
bring upon their heads tho wrath Of
agriculturistS.
President Taft appears to be about
the only one who is showing no con-
Germ about the situation. He is said to
have met all arguments against tho
agreement with Il determination to dis
regard mere political objections,
whether it come from stand patters or
Insurgents. II" believes what he has
recommended to be right and he mas
rIade it clear that SO long as he con-
tinues 50 to believe he cannot be dis
suaded from using every force at ilis
command that it is an advance to leg
islation to put the agreement into oper-
alton.
That President Taft realized fully
what arguments would he advanced by
protectionistS against freedom Of trade
relations with CANADA. is proven by
the fact that not a single member OF
the ways and means committee of the
House or the finance committee of the
Senate was appraised in advance as to
what articles would be- affected by the
treaty. His consultations Were neld
exclusively with the government trade
experts and only such of those as were
believed to he beyond political intiu-
cnce. In nothing that he has done since
he has been President has Mr.. Taft dis
played so much independent spirit.
Progressive Republicans are deriving
.tldrich and Speaker cannon and numer-
Gus others of the Old Guard were appar-
emily as much in the dark as anyone else
about the Presidents plans. The Pro-
gressvcs admit that the situation is mys-
tifying. They knew they We're not being
called i'm during the negotiations with
Canadas commercial representatives. but
now they learn that the stand patters
were equally neglected.
The question which has arisen naturally
is: How can President Taft expect to
bring about favorable action on the
agreement without having the support OF
some faction of his own party in Con-
eress"' Some want to know if the Pres
ident is depending wholly upon the known
Democratic support for the program.
Those who have taken the troubl" to talk
with the President about the matter are
said to have been told that he counts up
on the people generally, the Masses who
think he is trying TO lower the cost of
food to create sentiment necessary to in
duce Congress to act
The annual dinner OF the Ohio Society
is TO be held in this city tomorrow night
and President Taft is TO be one of the
speakers. 1t is expected that he will take
this occasion to say something about rec
iprocity Political leaders are wondering
If he will tell the diners what he intends
to do il Congress fails to act on tn
agreement at the present session. There
has been a great deal OF talk OF an extra
session if the reciprocity legislation fails
and it is known that much of this talk
was brought from the White House by
men who enjoy confidential relations with
the President. The tariff board, the bu-
reau of statistics and other bodies which
are Analysing constantly the economic
questions involved in the commerce Of
this country, are ready to fortify Presi-
dent Taft with any figures he may need
in carrying on Il campaign of education.
These bureaus already have prepared u
great deal of information bearing upon
the reltion of export trade to commercial
reciprocity with Canada. 1t shows that
markets of Europe The United States
and Canada can get equal prices for
grains and other products of the soil UNI
less one offers articles of superior quail
ty. 1t is recognized that the United
states always has found good market
abroad for agricultural products, even
wheat. in spite of the quality of the arti-
Gle grown in Canada.
The proposition that is being made by
the President for a contest with Congress
clearly shows that something more pow
erfui than mere politics must be used TO
combat him. Yet the fight is beginning to
loon1 I'm rs n rOlitipal issue
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