The Detroit times., 1911-01-31
President Says He Will
Force Reciprocity Plan

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-Presi
dent Taft's demands that congress
carry out his program for tariff
reciprocity with Canada has placed
the Republican members OF congress
in an embarrassing position. says a
special to the Chicago Tribune. Presi-
dent Taft, however. is paying no at
tention TO their troubles. He wants
the program carried out regardless OF
any objections from either standpet-
tiers or progressives.
The high protectionists already
Lave registered at the white house
their fear that the plan will result in
the disruption of the party. None OF
the so-called insurgents has confer
red with the president, but some OF
them confess they are mystified as 20
how the matter will end. They arc
ready TO admit that the proposed
agreement is In line with their tariff
arguments in the past, but they fear
TO adopt II lest they bring upon their
heads the wrath of the farmers.
Senator Beyeridge OF Indiana is one
progressive who is highly pleased with
the proposal. In an interview he Go.
claTed all classes OF men In the United
States would profit by such tariff
change, and declared he would do all
lossible 10 have the presidents pro
posal acted upon favorably by the
senate during this session. Mr. Bev-
eridge scoffed at the claim made by
the, high protectionist men that the
American farmer would suffer by the
change.
That President Taft realized fully
what arguments would be advanced
by protectionists against freedom OF
trade relations with Canada is shown
by the fact that not single member
OF the ways and means committee Of
the house or the finance committee of
I The senate was appraised In advance
as tG what articles would be affected
by the treaty. His consultations were
held exclusively with the government
trade experts, and only with such OF
those as were believed TO be beyond
Political influence.
Progressive Republicans are deriv-
ing some comfort from the fact that
Senator Aldrich and Speaker Cannon
and numerous others of the "Old
| Guard" apparently were as much In
5he dark as any one. about the presl-
dents plans
The question which has arisen ma.
turally 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 congress-" Some want &c
know II Mr.. Taft is depending wholly
upon the known Democratic support
for the program.
Those who have taken the trouble
10 talk with the president about the
matter are said TO have been told
that he counted upon the people gen.
orally, the masses who think he Is
! trying TO lower the cost OF food. TO
I create sentiment necessary to induce
| congress to act.
! The preparation that Is being made
by the president for a contest with
! congress clearly shows that some.
thing more powerful than mere poll
tics must be used TO combat him.
Yet the fight is beginning 10 loom
up as political issue.
Some members OF the senate and
house who would be expected TO take
! the lead for the denomination of Mr..
! Taft in 1912 may now be found 10
! be lukewarm In their support OF him
I II the president should deem IL I'm.
cumbent upon him to call an extra
session OF congress and submit the
| reciprocity agreement TO the Demo.
crafts of the next house IL liz said tina.
still others OF the Republican party
] may be alienated.
! This phase of the situation was dis.
cussed by one OF the presidents
| friends today He said that III MIR.
! Taft had given any thought 10 h,s
! political future in advocating the Can
adisn agreement IL had not been man
ifcsted Ia his conversations AT the
came time this friend declared that
ne believed the president had "A great
deal TO gain. even in politics, 10y car.
Iying on fight to decrease the cost
of living.
Tho Canadian reciprocity agree
ment was brought up in the senate
today when Senator Cullom (Rep..
ILL., said the presidents message had