The first action of Congress under the administration of President Taft, was the revision of the tariff. Long consid eration resulted in the passage, on Au gust 5, 1909, of the Payne-Aldrich Law, which was approved by the President in spite of strong opposition.
A notable change in the rules of the House of Representatives was brought about in 1910 through a coalition of Democrats and insurgent Republicans. This resulted in depriving the Speaker of some of his most important powers. Dur ing this session of Congress, the most important measures were those for the establishment of a Commerce Court, for a postal savings bank system, the Mann "White Slave" Act, and a measure pro viding for limitation on contributions to campaign funds.
The progressive element of the Repub lican party had become greatly dissatis fied with President Taft's alleged re actionary stand on important measures, and this feeling was intensified when Theodore Roosevelt returned from a trip to Africa on March 10, 1910, and ex pressed himself strongly dissatisfied with President Taft's administration. As a result of these conditions, the Democrats in the election of 1910, carried the House of Representatives by a majority of 66 and increased their membership in the Senate. President Taft in 1911 at tempted to bring about the passage of the Reciprocity Treaty with Canada. Congress, in special session, passed the bill on July 22. It was, however, re jected by Canada. Largely as a result of a scandal in the election of senators, a constitutional amendment providing for their direct election was submitted to the people in 1912 and was ratified in 1913. In the same year the States ratified the 16th amendment to the Constitution which was submitted in 1911, granting authority to Congress to enact income tax laws. During the session of the 61st Congress, acts were passed for the gov ernment of the Panama Canal Zone, and provided for the exemption from tolls of American ships engaged in coastwise trade. An act providing for civil gov ernment of Alaska; acts providing for New Mexico and Arizona as separate States; a measure creating the Depart ment of Commerce; and an immigration law containing a literacy test, which, however, was vetoed by the President, were also passed.
Foreign relations during these years had many important phases. The forces
of occupation were withdrawn from Cuba in 1909. In the same year long-standing differences with Venezuela were peace fully settled.
In 1910 Philander C. Knox, Secretary of State, proposed to various nations the establishment of a permanent court of arbitration at The Hague. At the same time treaties of arbitration were nego tiated with the principal European coun tries. Many of these were signed in 1911. The conditions in Mexico from 1910 to 1913 provided difficult problems for President Taft. Large forces of American soldiers were detailed to con trol the border during the Madero revo lution and following. While the admin istration was opposed to intervention, it sought to protect American interests and lives. In March, 1912, an embargo was placed on the shipment of arms across the border to Mexico. President Taft declined to recognize the government of President Huerta, which succeeded that of Madero in February, 1913.
There were three prominent Republi can candidates for the Presidency in 1912. These were President Taft, Theo dore Roosevelt, and Senator La Follette of Wisconsin. Mr. Roosevelt did not enter the campaign until Senator La Follette was withdrawn. Preferential primaries for presidential candidates were used in many States for the first time prior to the convention. At the' National Convention held in Chicago, the con tested seats were decided chiefly in favor of Taft delegates. Roosevelt supporters declared the decisions wrongly made and the greater part of them declined to take part in the balloting. President Taft was recommended on the first ballot and James S. Sherman was nominated for the vice-presidency. In the Democratic party there were also several strong can didates. These included Champ Clark, the Speaker of the House; Judson Har mon, Governor of Ohio; Woodrow Wil son, Governor of New Jersey; and Os car W. Underwood, member of Congress from Alabama. At the convention held in Baltimore, there was a strong contest between the Conservatives, led by Alton B. Parker of New York, and the Pro gressives, led by William J. Bryan. For ty-six ballots were required for the nomi nation, and Woodrow Wilson was nomi nated on this ballot, largely through the personal support of Bryan. Thomas R. Marshall of Indiana was nominated for the vice-presidency.