Imperial Valley press., 1913-06-04

( gresham reaches his Office and bolt!
the door there skips nimbly from the
next room a pleasing, open faced gen.
| tleman with more statistics. He's the
representative Of the sugar refiner, who
is perfectly certain that with the duty
taken off sugar the common people
can afford two Jumps in coffee and tea
and daughter can serve fudge every
night without embarrassing the family
exchequer, and without hurting the
| pocket OF the plutocratic sugar cane
| grower.
But the sugar devotees are only a
part of the army Of wouldbe tariff bill
murderers who are here awaiting an
opportunity to kill the entire bill or
| merely to relieve it Of part Of its
| anatomy. There is a very ardent band
| of wool apostles. who can reel off at a
moments notice enough statistics on
sheep ard the wool industry to make
| existence nightmare Of sheep count
| ing for our Legislators. The Ameri-
| can Woolen Company. that Organiza-
ton which dolefully admits it will prob
ably go to the bow-wows when the
proposed tariff law becomes eneclive.
| has small army Of representatives
| against the new schedule X.
| Then there are the cotton men, steel
| men, iron men, flour representatives
oatmeal manufacturers representatives
and others representing practically ev-
| cry United States industry which fears
| for its dividends if they are not pro-
tected by mountain high tariff wall
| All are adopting tactics similar to those
employed by physicians when as last
| resort oxygen is pumped into The lungs
of dying man. national advertis-
ing scheme by three Of the sugar fac
tions is but small part Of the cam
paign. Letters, statistics, delegations
OF manufacturers from the home dis
trictS. threats Of reprsals-in fact, ev-
cry method known to love. hate and
war are being put into use to stop the
passage OF the schedules which the
interested industries fear.
But through it all, like a dreadnaught
sailing a stormy sea, the party leaders
are steering the old Underwood tariff
measure through the legislative waters
to the haven Of the presidents sigma
ture.
Recalcitrant congressman Of Demo-
cratic persuasion who have been Op-
posed to certain Of the schedules have
been whipped into line. The moment
they have shown signs OF becoming
Sklttish and overlapping the traces OF
party pledges. they have been whip
sawed and spurred back into line.
The brunt Of this unenviable Job Of
keeping the party intact has fallen on
the shoulders OF the chairman OF the
powerful ways and means committee.
Oscar Underwood. With a skill and
dexterity and calmness Of purpose that
has evoked admiration and praise even
from his most bitter political foes. I'm
derWOOd has curled the lash of author
lily about the flanks of those who gave
signs Of baking, and the tariff wagon
has successfully crossed the legislative
plains Of the house and into the road
ways Of the senate with no material
or essential ounce Of freight that was
on it when it started Jared off. In
the senate Senator Simmons, chairman
Of the finance committee, is fighting
the tariff battle, aided by Senator Hoke
Smith. Despite the fight which some
senators are making against certain
schedules, notably the duet from Lou
lsiana, the passage OF the tariff bill
seems assured without change.
And behind the immediate line Of
battle against the lobbyists is Presi-
dent Wilson. He has declared for this
tariff measure. The wool and sugar
schedules are his own pets. He in
lends to see that they become a law.