The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1911-06-02
FIGHTING PLOT
TO BEAT PACT
Tatt Believes Amendments Are
For This Purpose
DEMOCRATS ARE HIS ALLIES
"Farners' Free List" Bill to Be Or
fered as Amendn ent In the Senate
&c Embarrass the Minority.

"Farners' Free List" Bill to Be or
fe,ed as Amendment In the Senate
&c Embarrass the Minority
Washington, June 2.-The crisis IL
the senate fight on Canadian reclproc
lty is expec-ed TO be reached Whel
the Democratic farmers free list
bill is offered as an amendment to the
bill carrying the agreement into Ell
feet.
That such an amendment will be
offered for the purpose OF emoarrass
ing the Democratic supporters OF reel
procity seems certain. 1t is toward this
critical contingency that President
Taft just now is devoting his atten
ton He is holding daily conference;
ut the White House in an effort &c
keep Republican and Democratic sen
ators alike in line for the pact.
President Taft is certain that the
reciprocity bill will pass the senate
by a comfortable majority if it can be
brought to final vote without
amendment.
The president feels that any amend
ment in the senate will defeat the bill
and he believes that to be the pur
pose of some senators who have pro
pcsed amendments The Root, Lodge
ana Nelson amendments have brought
the president into sharp conflict with
these senators, but he has not hest
tated to express his views regarding
them.
Fully cognizant of the fact that ne
must depend upon the almost sole
vote of the Democrats in the senate &c
carry the reciprocity bill through
President Taft has been endeavorins
to devise a means to help them out
of the dilemma that will be presented
when they are asked to vote for OF
against the free list bill as rider tc
the reciprocity measure. Some Demo
cratic senators have told the presiden,
frankly that they would vote against
the free list amendment if they could
be assured that the "standpat" Repub
Ii, ans would not stife in committee
the free list bill as it came from the
house and thus deprive the southern
Democratic senators of the opportu
nifty in open senate properly to record
their votes on the measure.
President Taft fully appreciates the
position in which the senate Demo
Gratis find themselves, but he thinks
he has found solution of the prob
iem. He has suggested that motion
By the Democrats to discharge the
finance committee from consideration
of the free list bill and to put it upon
les passage would serve the purpose
OF the Democrats in making their at
titude a perfectly clear one.
May Accept Taft Plan.
The plan, as outlined, has been
,roadly discussed among Democratic
enators and it is said that they be-
.ieve with other friends of reciprocity
that it is an acceptable solution of the
fsficulty.
In all of his talks with senators dur
ing the past few days President Tar
has endeavored to impress the fac
that in negotiating the pact with Can
ada, the United States offered to put
meats, -four, agricultural implements
and shoes on the free list. Canada
would not make like concessions. The
agreement is specific on certain points
and cannot be varied.
The rates on flour, meats and shoes
could be reduced without violating the
pact, it is said, but to do so would
open up the problem of the mos
favored nation" clause in treaties with
other countries And while the Unit
ed States would get no concessions
from Canada by reducing the rate:
the application of these rates to othel
countries, the president holds, nigh
let In Argentine meat and Australian
mutton, which he believes would be
real injury to the farmer.
President Taft feels sure of % Re
pabhcan votes for the reciprocity bill
IN the shape that it passed the house
He also feels sure of 35 or So Demo
cratic votes, making total OF 81 to s.
In favor of the bill, to 33 or "a agains
Il pairs, of course, reducing these fig
Rres to the total vote, but not as t.
the safe percentage of majority.