Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-11-21
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when the special session TO be
called by President Wilson begins
work on the tariff next spring he
win find that he has q serious Job
on hand. with Bryan on one side
and Understood and Tammany on
the other. with the South demand
ing protection Tor It's products and
the consumers asking free trade. It
will be a long struggle to frame q
bill that Will satisfy the nation. The
Republicans look forward to the
tariff session with great Joy.
Oscar w. Underwood Of Alabama
who doubtless will continue as chair
man of the committee on ways and
means, with which any tariff bill
must originate. has tremendously
difficult task before him. He has
lost from his committee three OF his
strongest Democratic colleagues
RsndeII OF Texas who was not re-
nominated. and James Of Kentucky,
and Hughes Of New Jersey. both OF
whom now go to the senate. There
remain ON the committee virtually
no Democratic members thoroughly
informed about the tariff.
The chief Of the Republican sur
viyors, Serene n. Payne, father"
Of the present Payne-AIdrich tariff
law. hardly can be expected to assist
with much enthusiasm In the first
steps toward o revenue tariff to
supplant his own. Daizell OF Penn
syIvania, Mccall Of Massachusetts,,
Needham Of California, and Long
worth Of OhIo--ell Of these either
jumped, fell. or were pushed out OF
the house during the "late unpleas-
antneas." Only Hill Of Connecticut,
and Fordney Of Michigan. remain.
Both are protectionists dyed in the
wool" There is no telling what
Democrats will supply the places OF
the three who are gone.
The senate finance committee
which win collaborate upon any
tariff bill. is in even more demon
allied condition. To begin with, It's
control passes out Of the hands OF
the Republicans, and Of its present
chairman, Penrose Of Pennsylvania
who succeeded Aldrich. Senator
Bailey Of Texas, the ranking Demo
crat, will not be in the new senate.
Next in order OF seniority comes F..
M. Simmons OF North Carolina,
whose reelection, while not yet ac-
compIished, Is assured. In the ordin-
airy course of succession, Simmons
would become chairman. Senator
Simmons is not regarded as one OF
the heavy-weights OF the senate, but
that is not the principal reason why
Democrats Of both houses are al
ready protesting against his being
made chairman Of this all-important
committee. simmons Is regarded as
protectionist; his vote for the
Payne Aldrich bill is now coming
home to roost." Sincere believers
In tariff revision, to say nothing Of
revenue tariff, question the wisdom
of having one of the senator's known
sympathies in control Of the bill up
on the evident good faith of which
the first impression of the Demo-
cratic administration upon the peo-
pie 90 greatly depends.
The other Democrats surviving
upon the finance committee are
stone Of Missouri; Williams Of Mis-
sissippi; Kern Of Indiana and john
SON OF Maine, One need only re-
fleet upon the attitude Of the states
represented by these senator's toward
reduction OF the tariff upon their
products, to realize the difficult ma
ture Of the task to which Woodrow
/ Wilson must set his hand when he
becomes president. 1t Is no great
wonder that Republicans sitting on
the fence. so to speak, already are
gleefully shouting: go it, husband,
90 It, bear!"
i The Big Auction is still ON at the
i Abilene Cash Store. "