Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-05-20
PRESIDENT WILSON
HAS SENATE in line
His Firm Stand on the Tariff
Holds WaVGriRg Ones

Washington, D. c., May 20.-The eff
feet of President Wilson's public dec
laration that there would be no COM
promise on free wool and free sugar
in three years in the new tariff bill,
has been the subject of constant dis
cussion since the chief executive made
his pronunciamento in the presence OF
assembled newspaper correspondents
last week Administration leaders de-
clared that the presidents vigorous as
sertion has served to strengthen party
lines up in the senate, and they point
to the vote on the question of public
hearings on the tariff bill as an indica-
ton of the solidarity of the majority.
Before the president came out so
strongly in the face of the tremendous
lobby influence that completely sur
rounds the capitol, the legislative air
was surcharged with uncertainty. On
every hand was heard the report that
the finance committee was planning to
put a duty on wool or to leave sugar
at the end of a three-year period with
a small tariff. So thick and fast did
the rumors fly that the president de-
cided that a little tightening of the
party ropes would do no harm.
Two Democrats Break Away.
Taking a firm grip on the executive
end of the string that lead to Capitol
hill, he called in the correspondents
and in their presence gave a strong
pull. Up to that time several demo-
Gratis had been reported to be waver
ing on the subject of public hearings,
At least five democrats were consider
ing voting for the Penrose-LaFollette
amendment. But when the president
re- affirmed his determination to stand
by the schedules which he virtually
dictated into the tariff bill, only Sena-
tor Ransdell and Senator Thornton, Of
Louisiana, broke through the party
lines to remain outside until the end.
Another phase of the tariff discus
sion in the senate served as a fore run
ner indicator of the exact situation.
That was the Interpretation of the
democratic platform as relating to
free sugar, given by Senator Ollie
James, of Kentucky, as the spokes-
man for the administration.
When the Louisiana senators at
tempted to put President Wilson and
the party on record as opposed to free
sugar. the executive head of the party
took notice again and on Friday morn
ing Senator James delivered what
amounted to a fiat denial of the allie
cations made by the insurgent demo-
Gratis who are fighting to break up the
majority on the sugar schedules
Saws Free Sugar is Favored.
Senator James declared that the par
ty did favor free sugar; that it cam
paigned on that issue, and, with the
knowledge of the president, he cha!-
Ienged any one to find a man who
could truthfully assert that Woodrow
Wilson ever said he opposed free SUI
gar. gain the administration scored.
Now the democrats of the senate
have the tariff bill to themselves. For
two or perhaps three weeks the bill
will be in the hands Of the finance
committee, and whatever other sched-
ules may be altered, the assurance has
gone out that no change in wool or
sugar will be recommended when the
bill reaches the party caucuses. Then,
behind closed doors, the democratic
senators will have their final confer
ence on the bill.
The caucus, it is understood, will be
a binding one. Western senators who
would like tariff on wool and those
who want change in sugar will
make their last stand. There are
some who believe that some changes
:. mi