OCR Text |
Show Democrats Insure the Passage of Reciprocity Agreement in the House. OPPOSITION VANISHES AT BEHEST OF CHAMP CLARK Next Speaker Says Pact Is Not Democratic Doctrine, but Is , . .. .Step Forward. WASHINGTON. Feb. G. Favorable action ac-tion of the house on the Canadian reciprocity reci-procity agreement was assured tonight when the caucus of Democratic representatives represen-tatives formally pledged the parly to vote for the agreement. The resolution Indorsing the Canadian agreement was carried, ?0 to 22. On motion mo-tion of Mr. Clark of Missouri, the action of the caucus was made unanimous. The twenty-two who voted against the resolution, it was explained later, were those who bad voted for free lumber, etc.. and thcir action in caucus was to make their position consistent, it was said they would vote with the party. The resolution resolu-tion as adopted by the caucus was as follows: "Whereas. The Canadian reciprocity agreement negotiated by the reciprocity commission of Canada and the president of the United States, while not formulated formu-lated in accordance with Democratic platform plat-form demands, is a reduction of some of the prohibitive schedules In the Paync-Aldricb Paync-Aldricb tariff law. and will tend to expand ex-pand the trade of the United States in Cannda, and is. in part, a recognition of the principle the Democratic party lias contended for in tho congress and In Its platforms: therefore, be it "Resolved. That this caucus Indorse the Canadian reciprocity agreement and bind ourselves to vote for a bill carrying It Into effect." Adopted Unanimously. The caucus unanimously adopted a resolution by Mr. Can trill of Kentucky, declaring thnt the caucus bollcves that every American farmer should have at his disposal "the information of the production pro-duction and stocks on hand of agricultural agricul-tural products, and wo pledge oursolvcs to attempt to bring about that end by explanation." ex-planation." Tho anti-reclproclty Democrats were given free rein at tonight's caucus of the hduso Democrats at the capllol. Most of thoso opposed to the Canadian agreement agree-ment submitted by President Tuft, expressed ex-pressed their views and several dwelt upon tho fact that tho bill incorporating the agreement should not pass without amendment. Amendments, or" course, would Invnlld.-ito the entire agreement. Conspicuously hung In the lobby back of the house tonight was a placard bearing bear-ing a quotation from n speech by Minority Minor-ity Loader Clark on Juno 7 last, having hav-ing been placed there by a Republican to call attention to Mr. Clark's opposition to any amendment of the reciprocity bill. Tho placard read: "I do not know how long we shnll be bore, but as long is I am here. I Intend to fight for the right to amend every section of every groat bill which comes Into this house and I do not earn a straw whether the Democrats control tho house or tho Republicans." Minnosotau Fears Effect. Moro than one hundred attended the caucus. Champ Clnrk of Missouri, the minority leader, and Mr. Underwood of Alabama, who will be chairman of the ways ami means committee, led tho movement move-ment to Indorse the reciprocity agreement, agree-ment, both ot them declaring for it uu-onulvocnlly. uu-onulvocnlly. Messrs. Hammond of Minnesota. Brant-Icy Brant-Icy of Georgia, Webb of North Carolina. Logarc of South Carolina, and others spoke In opposition. Mr. Brantley urged postponing all such legislation until tho next congress rather than put on the statute bonks a measure that will he used by tho Republicans as campaign material, Ho suggested thnt reciprocity would lot American automobiles Into Canada cheaper, cheap-er, but it operated dlsndvantngoously on the Amorlcan fanner. Mr. Webb talked similarly as to raw materials. Mr. Hammond pointed out that wheat today Is selling at Minneapolis 7 and S cents higher than at Winnopog and that nearly everything produced in his district dis-trict was injuriously affected by the provisions pro-visions of the .agreement. |