Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-07-30
THE SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
MASSACHUSETTS REPRESENTATIVES,.

MASSACHUSETTS RE REPRESENTATIVES..
Massachusetts has an unusually good
delegation of members of congress in
the national house of representatives
this year. Under fair conditions those
who compose it might have expected to
be heard from, to have a conspicuous
share in debate, and to exert influence
in legislation. There was clearly call
for their services The interests of the
state were threatened; her merchants
and manufacturers found their business
assailed in the legislation that was in
PRODUCED in the house. Here was emf
nently occasion for those who represent
ed the state to assert her rights and to
defend her interests, and it seemed that
the state had occasion to congratulate
herself that she had a representation in
congress so we'll qualified for such a
work.
Yet very little has been heard from
the Massachusetts delegation in the
house. That of the state in the senate
has been more conspicuous, having had
better opportunities but, unfortunately,
those opportunities have not been used
by Massachusetts, senators for the
states benefit; we have not found
Massachusetts, opinion expressed by
them as regards duties on wool and on
lumber, or, indeed, on extreme duties
in any direction, and when the vote
came on duties on hides, where Massa-
chusetts interests were more directly
assaied than in any other point, we find
her senators actually voting to put those
duties in the bill. The state realized
little but indifference to, neglect of, and,
indeed direct assaults upon her inter-
ests in the vote of her senators on the
tariff bill.
Massachusetts looked for something
better in the house, and with the dele
cation we have above described at
Washington she had right to expect it.
1t looked at first as if her expectations
would not be in vain, and it was not
the fault of these representatives them
selves that there was disappointment
with regard to them. The representa-.
tves in the popular branch of the state
ranged themselves faithfully, earnestly,
in the beginning of the de
terests and in advocacy of the convic-
tons of Massachusetts. No less than
four of its Republican members-Messrs.
Mccall, Lowering, Moody and Barrows-
assailed obnoxious features in the tariff
bill, and it was understood that at least
two more of them, Messrs. Simpkins
and Sprague, were in agreement with
these. Here was fine force to speak
for the Bay state. 1t spoke only too
distinctly for the purposes of the ma
ority. 1t was therefore allowed to
speak but one day. 1t said so much
that means were found to suppress it
f ON further manifestation in speech
The state was a power in congress for
that brief period, and then it was heard
from no more except to be misrepre-
sented in the senate.
For there was house of representa-
lives after that period Massachusetts
had talked dangerously for the pur-
poses of the majority, and Massachusetts
was suppressed. We do not say that
the suppression of the house for the
next three months was brought about
exclusively by this stand of Massachu-
setts Republicans for the interest of
their state, but it came in mighty handi.
Iy to put an end TO their being heard.
In the earlier condition of affairs, this
fight by Massachusetts members for the
protection of their constituents against
legislation injurious to them would have
been continued. 1t was sguelched in
his case by the squelchirg of the house
Itself. There being no house in session
for business for the next three months,
nobody could be heard in it, and the
process was complete,
At length there came time when the
house must sit to consider the tariff
again. We may be asked why the
members did not then
make an opportunity They could not.
They were as much muzzled then as
ever. 1t was decreed that all this de-
bate should be crowded into portion of
4 day, and IN this narrow compass all
he Republican time must, of necessity,
20 to the members Of the committee of
ways and means, which reported the
dill, and on which Massachusetts was
not represented.
The truth of the case is that In the
senate the representatives of Massachu-
'etts betrayed her interests, and Joined
with those who undertook to Cypress
ler business. In the house there was a
different spirit, but the first symptom
Of its appearance was the signal for its
In order to achieve this,
t was necessary to suppress the house
tspf Rut tbis was M obstacle. II