The Henson Journals
Mon 31 May 1909
Volume 160, Page 50
[50]
Whit Monday, May 31st, 1909.
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Raining but the air is heavy. We drove to the Senate House, & expended an hour in listening to the debate on the Tariff. Mr Elihu Root was on his legs when we arrived, & speaking with
much vehemence. The actual subject of debate was the proposed new duty on oranges & lemons. This was vehemently supported by the Californian senators. The whole discussion threw a strong & sinister light on protection. Nothing could be more nakedly selfish than the arguments advanced. The vote was in favour of a duty for which no possible case could be offered. Then we went to the National Museum, where is a considerable collection of Indian articles: & the Smithsonian exhibition where is a fine show of stuffed birds etc.
Dr Cotton Smith, the Vicar of S. John's, lunched here. We had a brisk discussion of psychotherapy.
In the afternoon Mr Bryce took me for a walk through the woods, in the course of which we feasted on wild–strawberries. At dinner George Adam Smith was present; & we had much interesting conversation.