The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-12
REPUBLICAN PARTY Is RENT
ASUNDER.
In No Shape to Enter Upon National
Campaign, Its Leaders Now Freely
Admit Near Ascendcncy of the
Democratic Party.
washington Letter

country is making its revolt against
felt,
President Mckinley changes his
opinion that presents itself. That
pliability of his is very trying to his
followers. Each one has different
story to tell when he comes from the |
White House.
The administration immediate Off
cial family are not a source OF com
fort. Secretary Hay is said to be posi-
Pauncefote treaty Secretary Gage is
wondering il the Republican majority
can shield him from further investi-
cation of his deals with the Standard
Oil bank. Secretary Root is in Cuba
trying to persuade the Cubans to be
good children and not bother the adj
ministration just now, and SO it goes.
Without doubt the administration
now wishes that it never whipped its
followers into voting for a Puerto
Rican tariff, and it certainly wishes
it never heard of the Philippines.
Then, too, a wrathful delegation of
Idaho miners, ex-prisoners of the bull
pen" Went up to the White House The
other day and told the president what
they thought of his scheme of martha
law in Idaho. His courteous manners
and soothing remarks did not soothe
these indignant citizens at all. They
wanted to know what he proposed to
do about it.
So really the president is not happy
at the moment nor does he see great
| promise of recollection. 1t is significant
| of his depression that he no longer
talks in high-sounding platitudes about
his imperial mission.
The gloom from the White House
affects congress too The opposition
have good reason to be cheerful.
| Their Republican colleagues are hoist
ed with their own petard, and ii the
sensation is not pleasant they have
only themselves to thank.
The Republicans are so thoroughly
disorganized that they are only
thinking how quickly they can adjourn
congress and get away from Washing
ton.
Their lesson on the Puerto Rlcan
tariff bill has not given them the cour-
age to confess their error and come
out and stand by the constitution
Their only notion of repairing the
bunder is to pass bill keeping Puerto
Rico and the Philippines under mill
tary law, and taen depend on invent
ing some explanation that will satisfy
/ "'le people.
new possessie of any legislation fo
trusts, for it will leave the Dfasgo
| duties in force The Republicans are
| so tied UP in trust control and so de-
pendent upon them for the financial
part of the coming campaign that they
cannot stand out for principle and the
rights of the people.
| The opposition have clean and con-
sistent record from the beginning of
congress. They have stood for the
constitution and for the protection of
the people against the trusts.
The Democrats pointed out some
time ago that the popular sentiment
was growing against imperialism and
the trusts. 1t is useless to beat about
the bush. The Republicans are in
sible for every omission of duty as we'll
as for the positive injury done along
certain lines
The table of our exports to the Phil
ippines for the last seven months
shows only a million and half OF
dollars for the total. This is entirely
for the army. In fact, not all of the
supplies for the army are sent frolu
this country 1t costs about $4,000,
600 month TO carry on the war Of
subjugation in the Philippines Every
time you help pay the war taxes you
can reflect that even commercially
considered, we get back about one dol
lar in ten that is expended. Spain used
to sell Cuba. Puerto Rico and the
Philippines an aggregate of about $40,-
100000 in normal times. Our total
, trade to these islands falls far short
of that even when we count the eX-
penditure for our big army. This idea
, of trade following the troops seems to
be a bit expensive.
: Representative Fitzgerald has Of
fered resolution in congress calling
attention to the enormous dividends
paid by the Standard Oil trust. and
, suggesting an investigation of its
: methods. He submits that the retail
price of Oil has risen about 3 cents pei
gallon to the consumer recently. He
might have added that in Idaho the
! trust charges as cents a gallon for the
precious fluid. This Republican con
. sr ess does not intend to encourage tina
] sort of thing. 1t has pigeon-holed {
% half dozen resolutions by Representa-
e tive Richardson, asking for informa
). ton about trusts. 1t will be entirel.
I; satisfied if it can pass the ship sub
: sidy bill, with it's absurd prattle abou
not being for the benefit of trust, ant
then let the whole question go owe
until after election. Under cover o
Representative Rays proposed consti
tutional amendment restraining trusts
the administration will wax eloquen
and claim that it was waiting for per
mission from the people before dis
turbing such big evil. 1t is NOR
y