The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-21
PRESIDENT WILSON'S DECLARA.
TION FOR NO COMPROMISE
ON TARIFF STIFF'ENS
WAVERING SENA.
TORS.
only Two Democrats, Senator's Rams
uell ana Thornton or Louisiana,
Stand ont for Tariff on Sugar-Fin-
ance Committee OF Senate to Work
on TariT During Week i'm Order TO
Have it Ready by Following Week.


that there would be no compromise
on free wool and free sugar in three
years in the new tariff bill has been
the subject of constant discussion
since the chief executive made his
pronunciamento in the presence Of
assembled newspaper correspondents
last week. Administration leaders
declared that the presidents vigorous
assertion has served to strengthen the
party lines up in the senate and they
point to the vote on the tariff bill as
an indication of the solidarity of the
majority. Before the president came
out so strongly in the face of the
tremendous lobby influence that COM
pletely surrounds the capitol the leg
lsiatiVe air was surcharged with un-
certainly. On every hand was heard
the report that the finance committee
Was planning to put duty on wool or
to leave sugar at the end of the three
year period with a small tariff.
So thick and fast did the rumors
lily that the president decided that q
little tightening Of the party ropes
would do no harm. Taking a firm
grip on the executive end of the
string that leads to Capitol hill he
called in the correspondents and in
their presence gave a strong pull. Up
to that time several Democrats had
been reported to be wavering on the
subject of public hearings. At least
live Democrats were considering vot-
ing for the Penrose-La Toilette amend
ment. But when the president reaf-
hrmed his determination to stand by
the schedules which he virtually die
tated into the tariff bill only Senators
Ransdell and Thornton of Louisiana
broke through the party lines to re-
main outside until the end.
Another phase Of the tariff discus
sion In the senate served as a fore
runner of the exact situation. That
was the Interpretation Of the Demo-
cratic platform as relating to free
sugar, given by Senator Ollie James
or Kentucky as the spokesman for
the administration. When the Louis
iana senators attempted to put pres-
dent Wilson and the party on record
as opposed to free sugar, the eXecu-
tive head Of the party took notice
again and on Friday morning Sena-
tors James delivered what amounted
to fiat denial Of the allegations
made by the insurgent Democrats who
are lighting to break up the majority
on the sugar schedule.
Senator James declared that the
party did favor free sugar; that it
campaigned on that issue and, with
the knowledge of the president. he
challenged any one to find q man
who could truthfully assert that
woodrow Wilson ever said he opposed
free sugar. Again the administra-
ton scored.
Now the Democrats of the senate
have the tariff bill to themselves For
TWO or perhaps three weeks the bill
VIII be in the hands of the finance
committee and, whatever other sched-
ules may be altered, the assurance has
gone out that no changes in wool or
sugar will be recommended when IN.
Dill reaches the party caucuses.
Then behind closed doors the Dem
ocratic senator's will have their final
conference on the bill The caucus
1t Is understood, will be a binding one.
western senator's who would like q
tariit on wool and those who want a
change in sugar will cake their last
stand. There are some who believe
that some change in one schedule or
the other will eventuate, while others
! maintain that no change will be made
ana that not more than one other
senator will join the Louisiana solons
! '"N"''' 'hC party lines. 1hat would
leave the majority in a safe position.
This week the finance subcommit-
tee Will be busily engaged with tar
iif experts and the representatives of
protesting interests. The private
! hearings also will be continued the
following week, by which time Chair
man Simmons hopes to have the bill
ready for tie full committee if not
I Tor the cHucus. 1t will get to the
senate aS soon after June | as the
leaders possibly can get it there. con
siderable changes in the metal. cotton
and chemical schedules are antici-
pated This will neccssitatc a con
Terence after the senate passcs tn,
bill. These probabilities give ndica-
uonS that it will be some time i'm An
gust before the task is completed.