Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18
DEMOCRATS WON :
BY C. 0. P. TARIFF
TrammeI Pledges Support If
Florida Is Protected;
Fletcher Friendly.

win the south In progressive po-
litical and economic change, not TO
say upheaval, CAPITOL Hill yesterday
beheld the spectacle Of certain old-line
Democratic Senators deserving their
party to line up openly behind the Re-
publican tariff program.
Under terrific pressure from his
distressed home State, Senator Park
Trammel Of Florida wired Senator
James E. Watson, Republican leader.
that he would support the entire tariff
bill SO long as it gave to Florida prod
ucts the protection offered by the House
schedules. 1t is the first instance on
record in which a Democratic Senator
has thus pledged himself to Repub-
lican policy before completion OF the
bill which Is to represent 1t.
At the same time it was revealed
that Senator Duncan q. Fletcher, Flor
idas other Democratic Representative
in the Upper House, had accompanied
a delegation of Florida business men,
mostly Democrats, to Senator Watsons
office during the past week and given
strong assurances of his support. Sen
ator Fletcher, however, did not put an
absolute pledge on record, and, while
indicating he would go long way with
the Republicans in the general tarln
legislation, did not commit himself TO
accept their bill, regardless OF what else
1t provided in addition to the desired
Florida schedules.
Home Backfire Started.
Florida business men, in co-opera-
ton with Glenn B. Skipper, Repub-
lican national committeeman for Flor
ida, set up remarkable bacEnre OF
home sentiment to urge the Florida
Senators to support the tariff leg1sla-
ton, as evidenced by sheafs OF tele-
6o he
ness houses all over the State.
It was said that similar movements
are under way in other Southern States
and that certain other Southern Sen
ators have refrained from attacking
the Republican tariff bill, as urged by
Democratic national headquarters. and
may be expected to follow the Florida
Senators.
The objective of these movements. it
was explained by some Of the Florida
business men who have come to Wash
ington Ito follow through" Is TO put
Southern Senator'S in line not only for
the schedules benef1ting their own
States but for the entire bill, on the
ground that it is useless to win their
own schedules only to have the general
bill fail later.
It follows the reasoning of the Man
ufacturers' Record, a publication re
fiecting the views Of important South
ern business interests, which directed
with the following admonition on the
cover of its current issue:
Seen rs Camoudaging.
MANY Southern Congressman try to
make their constituents believe that
they are in favor Of protective duties
on Southern products, but unless they
are willing to stand for protective duties
on the products of other sections they
are simply camouhaging and trying to
deceive their constituents.
ANY man of sufficient intelligence to
be in the House or in the Senate knows
full we'll that he cannot secure pro-
tective duties for the South unless he
co-orerates to give protective duties to
other sections"
In connection with this effort, which
is being accelerated as the Senate
finance committee Republicans put the
finishing touches on their bill, prepara-
tory to making public their schedules
on Monday, it was pointed out today
in Republican circles that the Demo-
cratic national committee has brought
no more than Is Of the 80 Democratic
Senators to the publicity firing line
against the Republican tariff program.
Ten Of the "a Democrats who have
not issued statements attacking the
tariff have been in Washington from
time to time and accessible to Demo-
cratic headquarters, it was said.
With the plans progressing on both
sides for determined struggle over the
tariff, when the Senate begins consid-
Grafton Of it on September 4. the bal
ance is apparently so close that doubt
whether any tariff legislation can De
passed in the extraordinary session or
Congress has crept into high admin
istration circles. The Senate returns
from its recess Monday and will take
three-day recesseS for more than two
weeks while the Republicans of the
Senate finance committee perfect their
bill.
Helps Party in Florida.
In the view of prominent Florida
business men, who were interviewed
yesterday on the growing tariff trend
in the State, the sentiment which was
brought to bear on their Senators, hrst
through resolutions of the Legislature
| and then by the present barrage OF
| kilograms, is water on the wheel OF
the Republican movement to hold Flor
| ida as one of the four Southern States
| which turned Republican in the presi-
Dental campaign for the first time
since reconstruction days.
Senator Trammell's telegram was re-
vealed in letter to Senator Reed
Smoot chairman Of the Senate finance
committee, from George S. Fletcher,
president Of the Florida East Coast
Growers Association.
Wire received. Have sent Watson
following: With further references
tariff on vegetables and fruits in COM
petition Florida products, urge rates
equal House rates with no seasonal
tariff. Will support bill If it embraces
such protection for Florida growers
See telegram sent my secretary this
morning PARK TRAMNdELL."
The telegram came from Lakeland,