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JUNE 15, 1906
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no. longer resorted to except in rare instances,
and in most of these instances the causes run
far back into the past and have created deep
prejudices and deeply-rooted feelings of distrust
and animosity which do not readily yield to ra
tional pacific treatment. During the decade of
which we are speaking there have been four
wars: the China-Japan war, the Spanish-Ameri-can-Philippine
war, the Boer war and the Russo
Japanese war; or nine if we add to these the
Boxe'r conflict in China, the German war in South
western Africa, still going on, the Venezuela block
ade, 'die Thibet expedition and the bloodless Pan
ama revolution. But during the same period there
have been almost a hundred settlements by ar
bitration. All of these have been important, and
some of them of the most difficult and delicate
character; as for example, the boundary dispute
between Chili and the Argentine republic, tho
British-Venezuelan boundary dispute, the Alaska
boundary controversy, and the North Sea incident
between Great Britain and Russia, which though
The Commoner
adjusted by a commission of inquiry, was really
an arbitration of tho first order."
PRIOR TO THE Spanish-American war, General
Weyler threatened to land an army in tho
united States and march the same across this
proud land. One newspaper paragrapher said
that if he undertook such a thing "the policemen
would run his old army in." We are reminded
of this in an Associated Press dispatch from San
Francisco. The soldier there had been holding
up all able bodied men and compelling 'them to
assist in an effort to clean the streets. It is
complained that in many instances tho soldiers
really exceeded their authority. The dispatch re
ferred to was dated April 23, and follows, "Reg
ular Police Officer J. J. Dow was held up by a
soldier while on his way to report at police head
quarters early yesterday morning. The regular
made an attempt to force the policeman to labor
in tho street, but was in turn held up himselt
and turned over to a lieutenant, who relieved
him of his gun and directed that ho bo sent to
tho guard house. Policeman Dow was ordered to
halt -at Pago and Colo streets. The soldier com
manded him to take a shovel and aid in the work
of clearing away the debris in .the street. Tho
fact that the officer was in uniform and wore his
star seemed to have no effect on the soldier. Ho
told Dow in plain English that he would shoot
him if he did not go to work. Tho tables wero
turned when the soldier turned around to pick
up a shovel for the man he was attempting to im
press. Dow quickly drew his revolver, held it at
the head of the soldier and marched him in front
of him to miliary headquarters at Pago and
Schrncler streets. Policeman A. C. Williams re
ported a like experience when he reported at
headquarters yesterday. Ho managed to nor
Bunclo tho soldier that he was oxceodi mr hL an
thority and after a brief argumentwas" .lowed"
to go on his way." w.a
WASHINGTON CITY LETTER
Washington, D. C, June 11. Gag rule is be
ing applied more vigorously than ever in the
house of representatives by Speaker Cannon and
his republican partners, Messrs. Dalzell and Gros
venor, who every now and then bring In a special
order to shut off the debate on leading measures.
The sundry civil is one of the most important of
the regular appropriation bills. This year it car
ries aggregate" appropriations of nearly $100,000,
000. Items in the bill affect practically every
state and territory in the Union. It has been
-almost from the foundation of the government
the custom to permit an extended debate on the
sundry civil bill. But Speaker Cannon and his
lieutenants suddenly reached the conclusion that
they would allow only two hours for general
debate. They had a double motiVe in adopting
such tactics. In the first place the speaker and
those acting with him wish to bring the session
to a close at the earliest possible moment. In
the second place they do not think it advisable
to give the democrats an opportunity to deliver
speeches that can be used with effect in the cam
paign that has already opened in many of the
states and which will be waged with unusual
determination with a view of wresting control
of the house from the republicans.
The republican triumvirate of the house are
even afraid to give their own men a chance to
discuss some of die glaring iniquities of the
sundry civil bill. They realize that on their own
side they have some unruly legislative "boys"
who might, in burst of passion, say things they
should have left unsaid, and it is, therefore, just
as necessary to shut the mouths of the repub
licans as it is to put the gag upon the minority
statesmen.
One of the oldest congressional employees
at the caiptol says thirty years ago it was the
custom of the house towards the close of the
session to set apart certain evenings while ap
propriation bills were before that body to enable
members of both sides to deliver speeches of a
general nature. It was understood that nothing
but speeches were- in order. Mr. Cannon, how
ever, seems to think that congressmen are doing
too much talking, and evidently Chairman Taw
ney agrees with the presiding officer, as the
Minnesotan is thoroughly in sympathy with tho
rule that was brought in. The policy of the
house republican managers is to apply the gag
from now on to every leading measure. They
will probably not gain by this. The democrats
are incensed, they have the sympathy and the
assistance of a number of mad republicans also,
and even under the drastic rules of the house
they can interject lively five minute speeches and
keep the majority leadersson the "ragged edge."
If the republican managers had not been so severe
they could have had most of the supply bills out
of the way long before this. Mr. Williams, the
minority leader, has simply been compelled to
fight with all the ardor of his nature. He has
maintained for several weeks that the arbitrary
power assumed by the triumvirate trampled upon
the rights not only of the democrats but upon
the republicans as well. There will doubtless
be some lively, if not sensational, scenes on the
floor before the session ends.
The democrats in congress are much encour
aged over the political situation in the great
state of Pennsylvania. As is well known the re
publican ticket has been placed in tho field. It
is considered a "machine" ticket from top to
bottom. It is declared to be the work of the
usual "gang" in the Keystone state. Senator
Penrose is in command. He is the successor of
the late "Boss," Quay. - Mr. Penrose naturally
fell heir to the place. Ho is by no means as
able as was the late Senator Quay. But he's
the best the "organization" could bring forward
to make the effort to save their prestige in pol
itics. Besides, Penrose Ib compelled to make a
desperate fight. He likes the senatorial life. He
wants to secure another term in the upper branch
of congress, and it is with him a fight to the
death.
Representative Kline) the only democratic
member of the house from Pennsylvania, is fluite
hopeful of an upheaval in his state this year that
will put the regular republican organization out
of business. It is too early in the season for
him to claim that the democrats have it in their
power to defeat the republican ticket. Pennsyl
vania is one of the rankest republican states of
the land. Much will depend upon the course of
the new party up there known as the Lincoln
republicans, who, several weeks ago, placed an
independent ticket' in the field. If they persist
in sticking they will surely draw an enormous
vote from the Penrose machine crowd, and there
would then be an excellent opportunity for the
democrats to win the election. It will be recalled
that last year there was a political upheaval
in Pennsylvania which resulted in the election
of the democratic candidate for state treasurer
by a pronounced majority. But no matter how
things turn out as regards the state tickot the
Pennsylvania democrats appear to be absolutely
. certain they will elect seven or eight and possibly
ten members of congress. All reports indicate
that the democrats are placing strong congress
ional candidates before the people, and the Key
stone republicans are understood to be badly
torn into factions on account of tho abuses of
the past ten years by the Quay ring.
Labor representatives who watch legislation
in the interest of the various organizations are
divided as to the employers' liability bill. Sen
ator Daniel, of Virginia, insists that the 1)311 as
it finally was put through the senate does not
do justice to railway employes. He contends
that the railway corporations compel the em
ployes to join 'the relief associations, and to
maintain these associations a portion of each
man's wages is doducr.ed whether he wishes it or
not, and he has no recourse. On the oihe,t hand,
H. R. Fuller, a legislative representative claiming
to speak for 230,000 railway employes, opposed
the amendment of Senator Daniel on the ground
that it would endanger the passage of the bill.
As such a large number of men are personally,
and directly interested in. this proposed law it
will be appropriate to give the third section of
the bill, as follows:
"That no contract of employment, insurance,
relief benefit, or indemnity for injury or death
entered into by or on behalf of any employe
nor the acceptance of any such insurance, relief
benefit, or indemnity by the person entitled there
to, shall constitute any bar or defense to any
action brought to recover damages for personal
injuries to or death of such employe: Provided,
however, That upon the trial of such action
against any common carrier the defendant may
set off therein any sum it has contributed toward
any such insurance, relief benefit, or indemnity
that may have been paid to the injured employe,
or, in case of his death, to his personal repre
sentative." The law that was passed by congress eight
years ago had the following provision bearing on
the subject, but will bo repealed and the section
given above will lake its place:
"That any employer subject to tho provisions
of this act and any, officer, agent, or receiver of
such employer, who shall require any employe,
or any person seeking employment, as a condition
of such employment, to enter into an agreement,
either written or verbal, not to become or remain
a member of any labor corporation association,
oi organizacion; or shall threaten any employe
with loss of employment, orv shall unjustly dis
criminate against any employe because of his
membership in such a labor corporation, associa
tion, or organization; or who shall require any
employe or any person seeking employment, as
a condition of such employment, to enter into a
contract whereby such employe or applicant for
employment shall agree to contribute to any
fund for charitable, social, or beneficial purposes;
to release such employer from legal liability for
any personal injury by reason of any benefit re
ceived from such fund beyond the proportion of
the benefit arising from the employer's contri
bution to such fund; or who shall, alter having
discharged an employe, attempt, or conspiro to
prevent such employe from obtaining employ
ment, or who shall, after the quitting of tho
employe, attempt or conspire to prevent such
employe from obtaining employment, is hereby
declared to be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon
conviction thereof in any court of the United
States of competent jurisdiction In the district
in which such offense was committed, shall bo
punished for each offense by a fine of not less
than $100 and not more than $1,000."
The contention of Senator Daniel is that the
section last quoted denounces- the conduct of
the corporations who compel their employes to
join the relief associations. The first proviso
given above, the senator maintains, rewards tho
corporations for violations of law, and gives them
special privileges instead of punishment.
Senator Daniel made a hard struggle to strike
ou the proviso, but under the manipulation of
Senator Kean, of New Jersey, it was kept in tho
bill mostly by the votes of republicans.
Although former Senator William P. Whyte,
who lias been appointed by Governor Warfleld to
succeed the late Mr. Gorman in the senate from
Maryland, is 82 years of age, he is a remarkably
active and clear minded man for his years. Sen
ator Whyte and the late Senator Gorman did not
always pull together in Maryland politics. Gov
ernor Whyte, as the most people call him in the
state, is a few weeks younger than Senator
Morgan of Alabama. The latter was born June
20, 1824, and Senator Whyte first saw the light
of day on August 9 of the same year. These
venerable statesmen served together In the sen
ate from 1877 to 1881. It seems odd, indeed, that
the late Mr. Gorman, who defeated Mr. Whyte
for the senatorship in the winter of 1880-81, should
In turn be succeeded by the man whom he van-
quished. It Ib conceded on all sides that between
now and the meeting of the next Maryland legis
lature there will be about as lively politics as
the voters of that commonwealth could wish.
No less than a half dozen candidate are ex
pected to be in the field, and the, republicans
will doubtless renew their efforto to see, wha'c
chance their party may have in getting another
senator. The republicans, however, will have a
hard row to hoe. Maryland io believed to be
safely democratic.
ALFRED J. STOFER.
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