Senator Gorman said to me he wished as little as I did to injure any home producer, and he thought his colleagues had confidence in and would be guided by me as to iron and steel rates, provided that large reductions were made and that the Republican Senators would stand unitedly for a bill of that character.
I remember his words, "I can afford to fight the President and beat him, but I can't afford to fight him and be beaten." Governor Flower shared these views.

There was little trouble in getting our party to agree to the large reductions I proposed.

The Wilson-Gorman Tariff Bill was adopted.

Meeting Senator Gorman later, he explained that he had to give way on cotton ties to secure several Southern Senators.

Cotton ties had to be free.