Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-07
POLITICAL SAGACITY
Used to Save Wilson Bill from Defeat
in the House.
The ssalis Hay YET Mill "a Bitter Fight
Yei b cess.

WASHINGTON. D. c., Feb. G -[Special.l-
Free trade. free silver and an income tax
What will be the next step taken BY the
Democratic party, wonderi"
This was wrung from dyed in the WOO
Democrat after the passage Of the Wilson
tariff bill through the house. The congress
man in question has not only been Demo
crat all his life, but his father was before
him. He has always voted the Democratic
ticket, upon which he was elected to con
gress. Until he voted against the Wilson
bill he had always been regarded as q con
sistent Democrat "a term somewhat doubt
fully applied to those who follow the party
leaders in anything and everything they
may undertake.
But when his name was called to vote for
or against the tariff bill he kicked owe,
the traces" to use q hackneyed expression
He was not the only Democratic member oi
the house, by any means, to do the same
thing, but the number of Democratic votes
recorded against it by no means represents
the number of members who would like to
have done the same thing, but lacked the
courage.
Efforts to Defeat the Wilson Bill.
When the tariff bill first came up in the
house for coDsideration. an attempt was
made to have the bill reconstructed. The
motion failed only because of the desertion
of q number of New York members who
had previously agreed to support the fill
buster. When the motion to recommit was
voted on, 80 Democrats were found to favor
1t. These men did everything in their power
to encompass the defeat of the bill until ii
came to the final vote on its passage. Then
many of them swung into line with theil
party.
Few persons not acquainted with the sit
uation here can realize how near the tariff
bill was to defeat, not only once, but sew
eral times, and the fact that it was finally
passed with rush reflects great credit on
the political sagacity of those having the
bill in charge. Democrats generally say
that the bill as whole is good one, and
s:lat by its'enactment into law the Demo
cratic party will have fulfilled it's pledges
to the people.
But while the passage of the bill through
the house was attended by many risks
there is every reason to believe that the
worst is not yet over. The original de-
termination of the Democratic leaders to
pass the bill as nearly as possible in the
shape in which it came from the ways and
means COMMITTEES was adhered to closely
This led many persons interested in secur
ing a change in one or more schedules OF
the bill to abandon the attempt to accom-.
plish their purpose in the house. Instead
they will turn their attention to the senate.
The Lobby at Work.
p Much preliminary work has already been
done. There is an abundance of money
behind the men here representing the af-
fected interests, and the men in charge
have both intelligence and experience in
matters of this kind. AS rule, of course
the money used is not given directly t.
those whose influence and votes are desired,
Theater parties and wine suppers are pc
tent adjuncts in some cases, although in
many cases tho suggestion of either would
do more harm than good.
The successful lobbyists know'3ust what
plan to take with each and every member
of the senate. Not long ago prominent
member of the third house lost heavily to
a western senator in poker game at Cham
berlin's. That was about the only way in
which to secure the senator's vote for the
bill in which the lobbyist was interested.
1t cost several thousand dollars, but it ac-
complished the object.
But such methods are the exception.
They cannot be brought to bear in many
instances, because but few members of the
senate play cards for money. Not few Of
them will refuse to accept anything from a
A +I,as,, fo
as to decline to even speak to lobbyist in
never in private. They
know that to be seen walking down the av
enue arm in arm with well known lobby
ist has been the ruin of more than one pub
lie man.
But the method usually adopted nova
days to influence legislation is through the
voters of congressman's district. 1t is
undoubtedly the most effective way OF
working The average public man cares
more for the opinion of a half dozen voters
in his district than for thousand other
men. The usual way is to send ont petit
tions to be signed, calling upon the con-
gresham to vote for or against certain
legislation. 1t is by no means a difficult
matter to secure a Thousand or more names
to almost any petition, but it takes time
and money and a good deal of both.
A Case Of Must.
The senate is deluged with these petit
tions. They come from every corner of the
and they ask for almost every con-
ceivable thing under the sun A casual OBJ
server would suppose that the entire conn
try was by the ears on the tariff question.
In this instance it is probably as true as any
question that has arisen in this country in
times of peace. But for all the unusual in
terest In the tariff question men would not
be found in almost every town, hamlet and
village to go about and get up monster pc
titions advising their representatives at
as to how to vote on specific
in the bill. No, this avalanche
Of petitions under which the senate is fast
being buried is the result of an organized
effort by the interested parties having the
work in charge in Washington.
The effect cannot easily be foretold. The
senate is not usually pliable body. Ex-
perience has shown that the house is much
easier to reach and to influence. The SEN
ate has its traditions and its set rules; 1t is
more deliberate and consequently less lia-