The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-09
PLAN TO RETIRE TAFT.
CUMMINGS OF IOWA OPPOSED
TO HIS RECONCILIATION.
Claims President Is by No Means i'm
Sympathy With New Element of
Party.

Chicago, Sept. 5.-Senator A. 3.
Cummings in a signed statement
given out here today declares his op-
position to the nomination of Presi-
dent Taft. After a discussion of the
main issue in the Taft administra-
ton, which was presented chronology
ically. the Iowa senator summarizes
his opposition in these terms:
MY general conclusion is, there
fore. that in every struggle which has
taken place since Mr.. Taft became
president upon vital things his al
lies and supporters have been the
senators and members Of the house
who are known from one border OF
the country to the other as reaction
aries, or stand-patters. and not pro-
gressives.
If the voters Of the Republican
party believe that the old leadership
should be perpetuated they can find
no better nominee than Mr.. Taft. 1
don't believe it ought to be continued,
and therefore. without any personal
disparagement Of the president, I am
hoping that a progressive Republican
will be nominated and elected next
year."
First in the bill of particulars is
the Payne Aldrich tariff law. of which
Mr.. Cummins says:
Mr.. Taft's associates in the maxi
ing Of this tariff law, which he de-
clared to be the best ever passed,
were Mr.. Aldrich and his followers
in the Senate; Mr.. Payne, Mr.. Dal-
Zell, Mr.. Cannon and their followers
In the house. 1t seems to me I am
justified in the conclusion that he did
not take the progressive view with
respect to this measure.
TITS hard for me to think Of the
Canadian bill as progressive, believing
as l do that it's passage was the re-
suit Of an understanding between the
president and the eminent reaction
aries--Penrose Of Pennsylvania and
Lodge Of Massachusetts-that they
would see it through the senate II
all other tariff bills reducing duties
should be vetoed"
After damning the peace treaties
with faint praise, Senator Cummins
takes up the woolen and the free list
bills. of which he says:
II haven't heard Of any progressive
rejoicing over the vetoes which killed
them. They were both prepared with
the greatest care and in the full
light Of advanced information, and
both amply justified by the standard
Of protection.
II predict that these bills gave
the president the only chance he will
have to sign acts Of congress reducing
the iniquitous duties Of the Payne
Aldrich law but preserving the sys-
tenn OF protection. In waiting for his
tariff report he lost an opportunity
which Democrats will not give him
again."
Passing to consideration Of the
interstate commerce law, the Iowan
declares that If the bill had passed as
insisted upon by the president, "the
work OF nearly quarter Of a century
would have been swept away and we
would have taken a step backward in
the regulation Of our railways.
Many parts Of the committee bill
were so bad that they found no de-
tenders and such efforts as were
made TO defend the administration
bill were led by Mr.. Aldrich and Mr..
Elkins."
Mr.. Cummins further AYERS that
President Taft is "out of harmony
with those who We're recognized be-
fore his advent into office as the best
exponents of the conservation pol
icy"
And taking up the Canadian reci-
procity bill he says: 1T is a false
pretense from beginning TO end" and
will not reduce the cost Of living or
enlarge our markets for manufactures
in Canada"