the tariff issue was pulling the gop apart. roosevelt tried to postpone the issue, but taft had to meet it head on in 1909 with the payne–aldrich tariff act. eastern conservatives led by nelson w. aldrich wanted high tariffs on manufactured goods (especially woolens), while midwesterners called for low tariffs. aldrich tricked them by lowering the tariff on farm products, which outraged the farmers. insurgent midwesterners led by george norris revolted against the conservatives led by speaker cannon. the democrats won control of the house in 1910 as the rift between insurgents and conservatives widened.