Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-02-18
WHAT Is TAFT Up TO?

It looks very much as though Presi-
dent Taft were intent on stealing Dem
ocratic thunder, on cutting the ground
out from under the feet of the Demo-
cratic party next year His esDousaT
Of free raw supplies, of a broader trade
relation with the world at large, seems
TO indicate complete recognition Of
the public demands and hearty will
ingness to accede to them as far as
conditions will permit 1t may be that
he viii prove almost as successful in
absorbing Democratic doctrines as
Roosevelt was, who was accused I'm
ally Of out-Bryaning Bryan in his en-
dorsement of radical views.
according to the correspondents of
the New York papers the attitude Of
the President at this time, so far as
the tariff is concerned, is the very an
tithesis of what it was few months
ago. Now he is far in advance of the
majority of his party in advocating
measures that will give the people re-
/ lief and promise to expand our trade
relations with the world at large.
The New York World correspondent
at the capital says;
It can be stated on authority that
President Taft wants his party to re-
move the tariff on every necessity of
/ life which does not need protection. He
wants this done as soon as possible as
/ he believes that the prevailing high
/ prices are materially Influenced by the
I protection policy. He also believes that
/ if the party Of which he is the titular
head, wants to save to itself even a
remnant Of the protective system. it
should revise downward the necessities
Of life as soon as possible, as adyocal-
ed by himself in his Springfield speech.
/ The President does not believe that
/ these unnecessary tariff duties should
/ be removed without Investigation. In
fact, he does not know, and does not
believe any one else knows now. Just
what necessities of life need no protec-
ton. He believes, however, that that
can be learned in a short time. He is
anxious to have Congress. at this ses-
sion, in addition to giving him the
reciprocity agreement, give him a per-
manent tariff commission.
That many, if not all, of the necessi-
ties OF life can, without injury to the
protective system and without mater
tally affecting the revenues Of the
country, be put on the free list, is the
belief Of the President. He is ready to
make an issue Of this, either with his
own party or with the opposition
The President is not a free trader or
tariff-for-reyenue only Republican
He stated in Columbus and Springfield
that he was prOtectionist and belfey-
ed in the maintenance of that policy.
but he does not think that everything
under the sun should be protected. He
intends making an issue of his kind of
protection. He will make it his and his
party's issue in 1912 The reciprocity
agreement is but the entering wedge
The Presidents acceptance of Champ
Clarks challenge yesterday stands
Mr.. Taft to-day wants reciprocity with
the nations of all the earth, but the
circumstances would not be the same
as in the Canadian agreement. Condi-
tons in the countries party to such
agreements would largely control the
kind of reciprocity. This is what the
President meant by his statement Of
yesterday and is the kind of protection
he advocates