The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-12
Republicans Divided
Over Trade Policy
lCopyright. 1890
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER,

WASHINGTON May 12.-By deciding to pay an
w unprecedented official visit to Canada June s.
President Roosevelt is putting the Republicans in
predicament that may easily become embarrassing.
Their Cleveland convention opens the next day.
Thus while the President of the United States is
visiting neighbor official goodwill mission
back home at Cleveland the Republicans are sched-
ulco to be sending up nationally broadcast bronx
cheer.
The occasion for the Canadian visit is to cele-
brate the new Canadian reciprocal trade agreement.
AS President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Mac
kenvie King exchanging fluctuations on behalf
OF the two peoples over this mutual effort to reduce
trade barriers. Republican speakers at Cleveland
likely to be denouncing this agreement
Ssult upon the American farmer At least Senator
Stewer Republican keynoter. who will be delivering
his masterpiece to national audience the night
after Mr.. Roosevelt lands in Ottawa voted against
the reciprocal trade act and denounces the whole
busineSs as unconstitutional surrender of Ameri-
can markets which the Republicans ought to repeal.
But possibly Keynoter Steiwer will omit to repeat
these hostile sentiments in his keynote because his
party is divided over the reciprocal trade policy.
Roosevelt's visit may dramatic that division.
In the past both parties have been on both sides
OF the issue. Since the Democrats revived it, Re-
publcans have been inclined to be critical When
the reciprocal trade act up iii the House, only
two Republicans voted for it. Only five Republican
Senators voted for it. One of them. Capper of Kan
Sas now believes the agreements unsatisfactory
because they let in too many farm products. Re-
publican organizers attacking the program in
farm belt meetings aided by George Peek, who as a
former AAA c0-a0mlnStratOr, 1OugnG losing battle
against Secretary Hull'S reciprocal program
ID GENTLY. Chairman Robert Lincoln OBren
~ Of the United States Tariff Commission
Republican, urged the party to accept the reciprocal
principle Many Republicans objected, including
presidential possibilities vandenberg and Dickinson
Borah voted against the act unconstitutional-it
shifts tariff making from Congress to the State De-
parment and substitutes diplomatic negotiation for
political log rolling. Knox has expressed sympathy
with the view that export markets can not be re-
covered without increasing imports but he has not
committed himself irrevocaby. Landon has not
declared himself. but is understood to be critical
Of some provisions of the Canadian agreement
Two Hoover Cabinet members Henry L. Stimson
and Ogden l.. Mills, have Endorsed the reciprocal
program as has the United States Chamber of
Commerce
Republicans would be less embarrassed If Con-
gress failed to adjourn by June because then Mr.
Roosevelt would have 20 cancel his goodwill trip
No one who knows what is going on here is ex-
cited the House victories by the Frazer-Lemke
nflationists Even il the House passes the measure
the Senate and the White House block its path 1t
rs written of here piece of campaign politics on
the part Of House members up for reelection.