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SENATOR BAILEY'S RETIREMENT
Senator Balloy's announcement that ho will
not bo a candidate for re-election is the sensa
tion of the hour. No reason has been given
to the public and therefore, thero is much con
jecture as to tho cause. Ho says ho will con
tinue to reside in Texas. Tho public will wait
for an authoritative declaration from him
before passing upon the sufficiency of his
reasons. Until better informed tho public
can reasonably look to his resignation, (after
ward recalled) at the closo of the last
congress for an explanation. He gave as
his reason then his unwillingness to serve
with democratic senators with whom ho could
not agreo upon fundamental questions. Tho
differences betwoou hiin and tho other senators
havo been accentuated by an increase in tho
number of progressive democrats in tho senate.
Ho has taken the wise course, although those
who differ from him recognize his great ability.
His convictions are deep and he would havo
found increasing friction in his association with
tho growing senatorial group of earnest and
aggressive exponents of popular government.
Tho confidence of the people In themselves is
increasing; they are demanding and securing
a Armor hold on their government. This "trend
is apparent throughout the world and it is
permanent. Many conscientious men of groat
ability honestly fear that evil will come from
a nearer approach to a pure democracy, but
these fears have been expressed every time a
step in advance has been taken they havo
proven groundless before they will be again.
Men may come and men may go but democracy
goes on forever. Its principles are becoming
more widely understood each year here and
throughout tho world.
A GOOD EXAMPLE
The St. Louis Republic printed in its issue of
February 2, a line across tho first page of its
paper as follows: "No whisky advertising will
be printed in this paper after March 2, 1911."
A Commoner reader who sent a slipping from
the Republic to this -effect, says: "Find en
closed clipping, ,to the effect that no more
whisky advertisements will appear in the Re
public Please comment on same, as result of
good exampld set by The Commoner. May .God
grant that the good work may go on until no
whisky advertising will bo accepted by tho
press."
ROOSEVELT ON THE TREATY
Ex-President Roosevelt, in a lengthy article
in the Outlook, attacks one clause of the treaty.
He is opposed to allowing a tribunal to decide
what questions shall be submitted to arbitra
tion. There is some force in the objections he
raises but he exaggerates the dangers. The
question is not important, however, if the clause
providing for investigation of ALL QUESTIONS
is broad enough. If all questions are investi
gated the chances of war are very remote. All
questions ought to bo investigated by an im
partial tribunal and then an agreement can be
reached without a resort to arbitration.
0
.
The Commoner.
THE LESSON OP 1010
IN OLLLE JAMES' HONOR
Special dispatch to the Kansas City Times:
Washington, Sept. 5. Representative Ollie
James of Kentucky is one of the largest mem
bers, physically, of congress. He stands six feet
high and weighs almost as much as President
Taft. His tremendously largo head, with prac
tically no hair on it, Is a famous sight.
One of James's most intimate friends is
Representative Thomas Heflin of Alabama, an
other six-footer of large frame, who boasts of
one of the heaviest crops of hair of any member
of congress. A few days ago Heflin approached
James and told him that he had just learned
that a postofflco in Arkansas had been named
after the Kentucky member.
"Is that so?" James replied. "Well, well, I
am certainly getting famous. Not long ago a
friend of mine named a race horse after me,
calling it 'Congressman James.' By tho way,
Heflin, what did they call this town in Ar
kansas?" "Bald Knob." Heflin replied.
oil
BRYANISM, BUT NOT BRYAN
It is interesting to observe that the very na
tion which rejected Bryan as acandldate for the
presidency is coming to regard the ideas for
which he stood as desirable. Save for his
fatuous advocacy of, free silver Mr. Bryan has
stood for few propositions which are not com
ing into popular favor. Winnipeg Tribune.
Where there are two great political
parties tho voter has but ono alternative.
If he finds himself betrayed by the party
which represents jtho principles in which
he believes, he can only resent the abuse
of his confidence 'and register his pro
test by voting against tho public official
tho agent of his paTty who has
violated his trust.
Tho voters in 1908 voted against
standpatism. They did more; by their
votes they directed the representatives
to revise the duties high enough to
measure the difference in production cost.
Wherever republican voters had the
opportunity at the polls in 1910 to vote
directly for the re-election of progressive
republican candidates, who had been faith
ful public servants, they returned them
by greatly increased majorities. Wher
ever standpatism was strong enough to
renominate standpat representatives who
"had violated the republican campaign
promises of 1908, there was nothing
left for the independent republican
voter but to rebuke the betrayal by vot
ing for the democrat instead.
It was not a democratic victory. It
- was a republican protest. La Follette's
Magazine.
0
THE PRESIDENT'S DEFENSE
' "My fellow republicans of the old Bay State,"
the president said in effect in his speech at
Hamilton, Mass., recently, "I come to denounce
to you the 'perfidy of the democrats and the
progressive republicans, and to point out that
only the standpat republicans can be trusted
with the government.
"The reciprocity bill which I must admit
was framed with only partial information from
the tariff board was a statesmanlike measure.
But everything else passed by congress was
worthless, or worse than' worthless; it -was play
ing 'politics. "And you must bear in mind that
playing politics is a crime when done by demo
crats. "Take the wool bill, for instance. The wool
bill was thoroughly vicious. Why, it was
framed in the same way that the Payne-Aldrich
bill was made. The only difference between the
two bills is that those who voted for the Payne
Aldrich bill were actuated by lofty and patriotic
motives, while those who voted for the wool
bill were playing politics, because they revised
downward.
"That they were playing politics Is evidenced
by this fact: When I convoked the special ses
sion I wanted only the reciprocity bill passed.
But those treacherous democrats actually had
the audacity to take advantage of the situation
and introduce bills revising the tariff down
ward. What business had they to do that?
"The men who supported these wretched bills
professed to be actuated by a desire to give a
measure of relief to the country. Hypocrites!
I (Jan hardly find words to express my repro
bation of their conduct. And I believe the New
England manufacturers, who were so well taken
care of by the Payne-Aldrich law, will heartily
agree with me.
"It remains for me to point out that the re
vision measures wore compromises between
avowed free-traders and avowed protectionists;
measures conceived in an unnatural alliance;
measures the product of log rolling for the
purpose of obtaining their passage. Horrible!
"Of course there will be ill natured persons
who will Insist that with a democratic house
and a republican senate only compromise
measures of that sort could possibly pass. We
will not discuss that side of tho question. I
am going to urge revision based on the tariff
commission's report at the next session. New
England manufacturers need not be afraid,
however. It must be scientific revision. And
heaven knows whether such revision can get
through a divided congress. But the manufac
turers may bo assured that I will permit no
other kind to become law. Better stick to the
Payne-Aldrich act than accept relief from demo
crats and progressive republicans.
"Have I not made it clear that this adminis
tration is New England's friend? Look what
you New Englanders got in reciprocity. Also
look what I -saved you from getting when I
vetoed the wool bill, the cotton bill and the
farmers', free list bill that loosely drawn free
VOLUME 11, NUMBER 37
list bill, -with its free lumber and free shoes.
Jramed with odious sectionalism to favor tho
western farmer.
"Does not New England see that it needs my
administration, supported by such stalwart re
publican tariff revisionists as Senator Penrose
Senator Lodge and Senator Crane, to take care
that its interests are safeguarded?" (Loud
applause from the assembled woolen and cot
ton manufacturers, with cries of, "The Aldrlch
law is good enough for us;" "Good for you, Mr.
President, don't let those western revisionists
bluff you;" "Don't worry, if you can't get
scientific revision through congress, we're do
ing pretty well as it is," and such.) Kansas
City Times (rep.)
THE PRESIDENT CHALLENGES MR. BRYAN
The following is an Associated Press dispatch:
Detroit, Mich., Sept. 18. President Taft today
plunged into the political phase of his long trip
through the west and delivered one of tho set
speeches which may have a determining effect
upon his future. Mr. Taft chose the "trusts"
for his first speech and outlined at length his
position, regarding this issue. In a' second
speech he answered the charge that he has used
patronage to further his own ends and chal
lenged the man who had made, the charge to
come forward and join him in an extension of
civil service practically to all the appointivo
offices, under the government. Mr. Taft's free
use of the words "I challenge" gave a campaign
ring to his utterances, which seemed to delight
his hearers.
The president announced his unqualified op
position to any amendment of the Sherman anti
trust law designed to overthrow "the rule of
reason" laid down by the United States supremo
court in the Standard OU ,and tobacco trust
cases and challenged William J. Bryan and all
other critics of the court to cite a restraint of
trade which they would condemn and which
would not be condemned under Justice White's
definition of thp law.
Mr. Taft said the department of justice at
"Washiiigton is conducting an investigation of
all' corporations suspected of operating in de
fiance of. the' antf-trtist law", :and' added that the
law as interpreted by the supreme ' court would
be found sufficient to caiise'the brealting up of
any illegal combinations. The president entered
into his defense of the supreme court with more
than usual vigor, and his speech, although read
from manuscript and devoid of oratorical effort,
was frequently interrupted with applause.
The "trust" speech came near the close of
nine busy hours spent by the president in and
about Detroit. Wherever he went today, in
Detroit proper, at Pontiac and at the state fair
grounds, Mr. Taft was compelled to make his
way through dense crowds. His welcome into
Michigan which is regarded as wavering on the
brink of insurgency, seemed to please the presi
dent immensely, and he was in a happy mood
when he left at 4:30 p. m. for Saginaw, where
a half hour stop was made and for Bay City,
where he spent the remainder of the evening
and dedicated the new armory.
"THE SECRET CAUCUS MUST GO"
P. O., Wentworth Location, N. H., Sept. 9,
1911. Editor The Commoner: I have lately
made use of Mr. Bryan's suggestion of inquir
ing as to the stand our congressmen take on
the questions now before the public and here
with enclose the reply received from the con
gressman representing the district in which I
live, which you havo my permission to publish
in The Commoner if you wish.' I do not think
Mr. McGlllicuddy would have any objections, as
the reply is straightforward and right to the
point. You can return me the letter by mail,
postage for which I enclose. Yours very truly,
H. W. FICKETT.
Lewiston, Me., Aug. - 30, 1911. H. W.
Fickett, Esq., Wentworth Location, N. H. My
Dear Sir: Replying to your Inquiry as to my
opinion of secret caucus, etc., will say that 1
have no use for a secret caucus. I favor open
caucuses and shall vote for it when it is brougnj
upNin the next session of congress. I know 01
no reason why such things should not be open
to tho world and am fully convinced that sucu
publicity will result in good to all.
As to the other questions to which you re
fer, to-wit, the tariff, I am for a revision ot tn
tariff downward, in accordance with the pj.
form of our party In 1908. I favor the """
tive, referendum and recall, also the inc01""
tax and have voted for them all whenever tne
have come up. Very truly yours, -,v
D. J. McGILLICUDDY.
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