Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-04-17
WILSON WINS
FIRST round
President Appears Strong at the
Tap of the Gong.
LANDS FREE SUGAR AND WOOL
His Plans For Reduction of Tariff
Are Touted to Win Easily
Is Having Things His
Own Way.

Washington, April 14.-Presiden
Wilson emerged from the first weel
OF the special tariff session of con
.gress, apparently In stronger posi-
tion as the active leader of Demo
crazy than at any time since hi
assumed the presidency.
Within the brief space Of sever
days he had won a victory in thu
caucus of house Democrats for hi
free sugar program; had formed &
working agreement with the Demo
cratic leaders of the senate which
It is believed will insure general
support of his tariff program In that
body; and had established prece-
dents of presidential cooperation
with congress which, II susscessful,
are expected greatly to influence
legislation throughout the Wilson
administration.
The tariff revision fight admitted
1y Is only begun; but the develop
ments of the last week have con-
WINGED party leaders that there are
likely to be few changes from the
rates favored by the president; and
little dissension within the Demo-
cratic ranks over the final approval
of the bill. a
The wool fight will come in the
house caucus early this week. While
. Democratic minority organization
OF forty or more representatives will
attempt to upset the presidelnt's
free wool program 1t is expected that
the administration will be sustained
by a large majority as 1t was in the
fight on the sugar tariff provision
Saturday,
Senate leaders have pledged to
the president their support of the
sugar and wool provisions as finally
adopted by the house. 1t is believ-
ed that the attempted organization
between opponents of free sugar and
free wool in the senate will not
acquire sufficient strength to alter
the bill.
The full Democratic membership
Of the house resumed consideration
of the tariff behind closed doors to-
day with the prospect of another
weeks fight before the Underwood
bill comes out with the seal of party
approval. Agricultural duties will
be taken up first and representatives
of farming districts are planning a
hard fight against some of the more
severe reductions.
Republican members of the house
ways and means committee are now
working on substitute cotton and
wool schedules. The Republicans
will have another caucus Thursday
night for further discussion of the
tariff.
Preparations of currency reform
legislation Is to move slowly because
of the agreement between the presi-
dent and congressional directors of
financial legislation that it shall not
interfere with the tariff revision. A
series of hearings probably will
open soon under the direction of
the senate banking and currency
committee,
Alaskan railroad legislation which
is also to be the subject of senate
hearings, will be pressed for early
action. Senator Pittman, chairman
of the territories committee will at
tempt to have an Alaskan govern
ment railroad bill passed through
the senate before Tariff revision is
taken up there.
Little legislative work is expect
ed from either branch of congress
during the next week. Senate mem
bers are devoting themselves to a
study of the tariff in preparation
for the work they must do upon it.
BRYAN FOR MERIT SYSTEM.