The Washington times., 1913-04-09

Before anybody in Congress, outside
the privileged members of the Ways
and Means Committee, had had time
10 read the Underwood tariff bill from
"kiver to kiver," from acids to ad-
ministration, estimates of tire session S
length were already visibly stretching.
The great game of hunting for jokers
was in progress. and, in proportion TO
the zeal with which il was prosecuted,
Il proved fruitful 1t has been highly
suggestive of the character of the tight
tl,at will mark the bills consideration,
that Republicans and former Repub-
icans who opposed the Payne-Aldrich
measure, arc indulging in criticism,
rather than commendation, of the Un-
lcrwood bill Already it is a serious
question with Democratic leaders
whether these Republican and Progress
sive liberals on tariff will be able TO
give enough moral support to Demo-
ratio protectionists, to justify the lat
Ter I'm breaking away from the organ
ization and carrying their fight to the
last extreme.
President Wilson has hoped for sub
s.nntial support from these Republican
md former Republican elements. He
will not get il. There is far more like
lihoed that they will finally prove his
nOSI QduSeIOuS OppOhcitc-
A Democratic Senator. opposed to
free wool, free sugar, and the low
9otton schedule, might never have tn
courage to break with his party and
follow the lead of an Aldrich; but what
It, breaking away from Wilson and
Underwood, he can go home and defend
himself with the boast that he stood
with Bristow, La Toilette, Cummins,
Clapp, and the rest of the men who
made the bitter fight OF 1903 against
Aldrich?
Grave Danger Ahead.
That Ia the gravest danger the Ad-
ministration faces today
1t Will be considerable time before
the men who are now studying the
Underwood bill with an eye for its
shortcomings. will be ready to reach
general conclusions. But the general
line Of assault on it can be forecast
with reasonable confidence
Samuel Dale, editor of the Textile
worid-Record. discussed the textile
schedules with people at the Capitol
and his views have especial importance
because they were SO weighty with the
men who attacked the cotton and
WOODEN schedules four years ago. At
McLea were CHIEF among the expert
advisers Of Senators Dolliver and La
Toilette. They were both bitterly hos
Tile to the Aldrich schedules. There
two arc now criticiang the Underwood
bill and seeking to impress their views
ON members Of Congress.
But whereas. they criticised the
Payne-Aldrich bill as being too high
IN its rates, they charge that the Un-
derwood measure ie too low.
The Southern Cotton Manufacturers
Association. In convention in Washing.
Ton. was astounded when 1t learned the
details Of the cotton schedule now pro.
posed The members Of this organiza.
tion had expected that the rates work.
cd out and advocated first by Louis w
Parker. OF Greenyille, s. C. would be
Substantially adopted.
drctton from the Payne-Aldrich meas.
ure. but the Southerners were satisfieS
that there must be reductions, and ac.
cepted that as Inevitable.
Mr.. Parker il a former president oi
their association, and man of large
ability. Mr.. McLea is now associated
With the Parker business. and has beer
ultimately connected with the prepare,
ton OF the so-called Parker sched.
ule' Of cotton rates. Mr. McLea, VIII
rotton schedule four years ago, protest,
hat the Parker rates would have
represented full, fair measure OF re
Nef from those impositions. while re-
hditiiiie a. sale measure OF protection
CONSERVATION In South.
But when the Underwood bill came
out, the Southern manufacturers learned
that the Parker rates had not beeT
adopted. Instead, the rates in the Tn.
derwood draft were in many cases de
cidedly lower than the Parker figures
and there was CONSERVATION at once
The association adopted vigorous reso
.utions of protest. and declared that dis
sster to the industry would follow
edoption OF this schedule.
This protest from the manufacturer,
might have had little weight, becaus,
four years ago there was so much o.
the cry of wolf from the Nothern man
Lfacturers, that IL has somewhat los
It's terror. But when Samuel Dale cam,
7iOng and expressed the deliberate opin
ION that the Southerners were right
7ud that this schedule would greatly in
lure the business, he got promp
hssIing. Mr- Dale's course Of foul
ears ago has earned him high reput'
With people who want an honest ant
fearless exposition Of the truth abou
the textile schedules. His Accession
20 the manufacturers side Was thei
first big gain.
Mr.. Dale. who worked more thar
iwenty yrs in wooden mills. is NOR,
intiIate with that line than with cot
tons; and he expressed dissatisfactio,
With the Underwood wool schedule also
" we are to have free raw wool" h,
said, Il can see no reason for any du
les on the products turned out by tn
snufacturers"
But Mr.. Dale, while insisting tha
there was Inconsistency here, did no
commit himself In favor of free raw
"ool- On the contrary. he indicated
preference for a moderate duty on raw
wool and corresponding duties on tn,
manufactures. This puts him in an
t"sonism TO the whole Underwood plan
To Be Center of Fight.
That the textile schedules will be one,
pore the center of the fight is aIread,
plain. But sugar will stand with them
tne of the Republican leaders in tn,
hSht for lower sugar duties and agains
the Dutch standard four years %
said:
Il cannot vote for free sugar bat
would just as soon vote for il as fol
Ibis plan of giving duty OF ! cent fol
f'treo years and then making il free
There Is nothing the sugar people car
io In three years to make them more
tble TO stand the removal Of the duty