The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-10
In Presidents Room, He
Confers With Fellow
Democrats.
VISIT CONDUCTED
WITH SIMPLICITY
When Conference Is Over, He
Steps Into Corridor to Tell
Newspaper Men Results of
Meeting-He Sees No Diff
hculty in Party Uniting
on Program.

Washington. April S.-In the In
terest of success for the Democratic
to-day stepped over another obstacle
in the way of perfect harmony be-
tween the White House and the di-
recting forces of Congress. For the
second successive day he left his Of
fees in the White House and jour-
neyed to the Capitol, this time for
an hour and q halr-confcrence with
Democratic members of tho Senate
Finance Committee.
At it's conclusion, the President
stated frankly to newspaper men that
he and members OF the Senate were
agreed that nothing stood in the way
of harmonious support of the s'party
platform" as to tariff revision.
The Senate situation was canvassed
In detail In the conference. The dan
gers that might threaten single bill,
should the opponents of free sugar
and free wool combine insufficient
strength to endanger the Democratic
majority in the Senate, were dis
gussed; but no agreement was
reached that binds the Senate lead
erS to any definite line OF action.
While the Senate conference was
in progress, the full Democratic mem
bership of the House was il caucus
at the other end of the Capitol, dis.
cussing the details of the tariff bill,
the first schedule of which was
agreed to without change. Reprs
sentative Underwood, the Democra-
tic leader, stated at the conclusion
of the days caucus that the tariff
revision would go through the
House as single bill.
Precedent Is ignored.
The President again ignored long
standing precedent in seeking legis-
lative conference within the Capitol.
He met the Senator'S in the Presi-
dents room, near the Senate cham
Der, where Presidents have long
come to sign the last bills of a dying
Congress, but which had never be-
fore been used for such a purpose
as to-day's within the knowledge of
Senate historians
At the end of the con-
ference, the President, with Dem
ocratic simplicity. stepped into
the Senate corridor to tell newspa-
per men the results of the meeting.
Members of the Senate Finance Com
mittee had agreed that the Presi-
dnt should be the only spokesman
for the conference
II hope the Senators and Repre-
sentatives will permit me to come
mere frequently and confer with
them in way to save their time
and mine." he said AT our con-
ference this afternoon we were. of
course, discussing the tariff. The
,at ,s.
ficulty about standing together on
any sort OF party program"
The President was asked If the
conference had decided whether the
tariff would be revised i'm a single
bill or schedule by schedule
That's matter for the other end
OF the Capitol" he answered, point
ing toward the House side.
But they will be guided by your
advice, will they not?" he was asked
by the newspaper men.
II haven't asked them" reioined
the President, with a smile
Told of Difficulties.
The President had been informed
by the Senators fully OF the difficult
ties ahead of the tariff bill If it came
to the Senate as single measure.
Further investigation is to be made,
to determine strength that could be-
mustered by opponents OF free sugar
and free wool. AS result OF to-
days conference, which is to be re-
sumed later, it is believed the Pres
ident will not object if Senate lead
ers determine it is essential that the
tariff be split up into q number Of
measures.
President Wilson's decision to Wis
it the Capitol was communicated to
Senator Simmons and to the SER
geant-at-arms of the Senate early in
the day.
Senator Simmons was notified that
the President would be in his room
at o'clock and would like to re-
sumo there the conference with FL
nance, Committee members which be-
gan Monday morning at the White
House. Extreme simplicity sur
rounded the Presidents arrival at
and departure from the Capitol. The
Senate was deserteu, and but few
people witnessed the coming and 90.
ing OF the executive, OF realized the
Importance OF the precedent he had
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