Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-03-11
TAFT'S DEFEAT
Republican Leaders Make Dismal
Prophecies Of Outcome In 1872
Believes Country Approves.

/ Washington, March Tit is net easy
to estimate tehe bitterness and cha
grin stirred up against President Taft
| by the regular republican leaders al
the Capitol on account Of his course
In calling an extra session.
In the remarkable series of stirring
events Of the last few days OF the
Congress, a good deal of what was
passing between the leaders on the
Republican side in House and Senate
and the President was lost sight OF.
As a matter OF fact, It Is doubtful if
any President in a generation has
been put under more severe pressure
from the leaders OF the party. He was
urged in every possible way, net to
call an extra session.
The President has been told by
some of the leaders not only that the
calling of an extra session VIII be
ruinous to the party, but that It will
be disastrous to him politically. He
has been told 1t will hopeless,y split
the Republicans and that he will be
beaten badly at the polls If he runs
for President in 1872.
Farmers Reported Hostile.
He has been told that the farmers
IN the border states will turn en-
masse against the Republican party
on account of reciprocity and against
himself. He has been told that many
OF the farmers in these States already
are excited. He has been told that
New York State farmers will go over
tic the Democrats and thus throw the
State headlong into the democratic
n7nks in 1912. He has been told that
the democrats will enter into prcIong-
cd and general revision of the tariff
and keep the country stirred m, with
loss to business interests.
As a matter of fact, it is not easy to
set forth all of the strenuous predic-
tons of calamity to himself and his
party that have been made to the /
President. The Ieareds have told him |
dent. The leaders have tod him
about everything they could think of
in order to pull him C. # and get him to
4
dent has insisted that he would call !
the extra session, and that he was
&C WINGED reciprocity would work 20 |
the great advantage eff the country I
He has showed scarcely a sign at any !
tine for weeks of weakening in his |
purpose to call an extra session if re- |
cprocity should fall.
believes Country Approves.
The President has received so many |
letters and kilograms expressing an
prevail of his reciprocity program that
he is fully convinced he has taken
the course the country wants him to.
Moreover, he has been pleased over
the general approval of his course as
Indicated by the newspapers. The
President has been so used to foods OF |
criticism that he was hardly prepar-
ed for the widespread expressions in
the newspapers approving reciprocity |
and his discrimination to force on it. |
Under such circumstances the Pres
identhas been unmcved by the thou
sands OF letters and kilograms of pro-
test which were rained on the White |
House in the effort to get the extra |
session headed off.
Dismal Prophec ,es Made.
Mt merely have the leaders used |
every effort TO dissuade the President |
from calling an extra session, but now |
that It is called and now that the at |
t;tude of the President shows he is |
going to stand by reciprcc city to the |
uttermost, bitter expressions of criti !
cism can be heard in republican quar- |
tiers. The most dismal prophecies are |
heard. 1t is predicted the republicans |
will get hopelessly beaten il the next |
election, and that Congress will be |
made democratic in both houses. Some
Of the regular republicans openly say
Taft cant come back after his pres
eIt term because of his course on re-
cprocitv and the extra session.
The President went into the reci-
nrocity negotiations in the first place
without consulting the republican
leaders in Congress. His whole course
in this matter has been one of def
aEco and disregard of the leaders.
Now they are asking to what extent
he is ing to disregard them in other