The age-herald., 1900-03-01
PARTY LEADERS
 TAUGHT A LESSON Republicans Will Hereafter Con- suit the Rank and File. FOUND OTHER WISE MEN Porto Rican Debate Brought Out Fact That Ways and Means Committee
 Did Not Contain Allthe
 Statesmen
FOUND OTHER WISE MEN

Washington, February 2S.-eS2ecial)-1t is safe to say that the Republican leaders of the house will not in a long time attempt to pass through the house any legislation for our new possessions without first feel ing the temper of their partisans in that body The members of the ways and means committee having determined that duty of 25 per cent of the Dinsley rates should be imposed upon Porto Rican prod ucts entering the United States and prod ucts of our people entering Porto Rico, reported bill to that effect without con- sulting the views of the great body of re- publicans. With superb self satisfaction they thought the republicans would accept their decision as correct, regardless Of the fact that the president had recommended free trade, and a large number of repup- licans were in grave doubt as to the con stitutionality of such a proposition.
 When the debate on the bill began they found to their intense surprise that the republican majority had acquired a habit of thinking for itself, and that many men did not favor the measure. They went blindly on, however, relying on party dis cipline and the dread of being irregular to
 
 talk of opposition and with supreme self confidence assumed that they were the house. and said the bill would surely pass As the debate proceeded, they found that at least fifty republicans, and probably seventy-five, did not agree with them, and were inclined to Believe the president knew what he was telling when he urged free trade for Porto Rico.
 Strong Men Opposed Them
 They found such strong men as Mccall of Massachusetts, Littlefield of Maine, several others were fighting against the bill. They rushed to the president, but got no other satisfaction than the statement that he still believed in free trade for Porto Rico, but would not veto bill imposing tariff duties. They hoped this would les- sen the opposition, but the opposition con- tinued to grow, and Littlefields speech in creased 1t.
 They became pftiably demoralzed held conference on Saturday, but reached no conclusion. compromise was suggested. and this seemed to satisfy most of the kickers, put they grum0led because public sentiment was against the loill. The men
 
 ciple was possible, still held out, but 1t seems as if by their willingness to yield to the opposition to a considerable degree they have assured the passage of the bill, but by a narrow majority.
 The lesson of it all is that in a house with such narrow majority the leaders of the republican party must consult the wishes of the rank and file of the party and concede that the fact of their longer service and greater experiences does not give them all the wisdom. It is an i'm portant lesson to these leaders. It places the real power of the house in the hands of the members themselves, and not in a self admiring little coterie. Some there are who think the revolt has hurt the republi- can party. Perhaps so, but it is only be- cause of the unwisdom of the leadership, and because the people of the country feel that having acquired Porto Rico as a result of war for humanity, We must not pro- ceed to impose taxes that will hinder the developments of Porto Rican commerce. and to great degree prevent the importa- ton of furniture, corn. cattle, wheat, cot ton cloth, etc., which are so much needed by the Porto Ricans.
 ALBERT HALSTEAD.