Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-01-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
DEsPICABLE COURSE OF PETIT
! GREW, OBsTRUCTI0NIsT.

~SS0~ SS~
GREW, OBsTRUCTI0NIsT.
Has Lost. the Respect of Those Who
Once Honored HiIn-Supported In
1890 a Principle He Now Schemes
to Defeat. y
WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator Petit
grew Of South Dakota has developed
into such an out and out obstructionist
that few people remember the time
that he occupied a position of influence
and power among his colleagues in the
United States senate. With the change
In sentiment there has come a complete
those previously concealed idiosyncra-
sizes Of character which have made him
so obnoxious to both sides of. the SEN
ate chamber because Of the virulence
Of his language have been revealed.
He is consuming the closing days of a
most ignominious career in the United
States as a leader of a clique of OBJ
structionists which may go down in
history yet as having compelled the
most deliberative legislative body on
earth" to place a limit upon debate.
-.
On the army reorganization bill, be-
fore the final vote was taken, and
which SO signally sustained the ad-
ministration and carried into effect the
will Of the people as expressed at the
polls last November, Senator Petit
| grew easily took first rank as the most
bitter of the radical flibusters. He
has permitted himself to be interview
ed repeatedly in order to assure the
public that his opposition is largely d.
rected against the shipping bill, to de-
feat which he was quite willing to
| oppose all other measures, however
pressing, that preceded it. Senator
Pettigrew has freely INDUCED" in state
ments impugning the motives of the
friends of the shipping bill, and his
bitterest ~invectives and choicest cpl
thets have been directed, against the
owners Of the swift ships under the
American flag in the transatlantic
trade, while he has not hesitated to
| charge against his colleague, Senator
Hanna, the basest motives for his sup
port of the measure as presented for
passage by the senate commerce. com.
mittee. ~ '%
A curious thing has come to light in
this connection, however, which will
have no effect upon Senator Pettigrew
or his position upon the shipping bill,
but 1t will have a widespread effect
upon the public mind when the fact is
known. 1t is this: Ten and a halt
years ago there was before the United
States senate a shipping bill which
provided compensation for swift steam.
ships carrying the mails approximating
in amount precisely the sum now pro.
vided in the pending bill and against
which all Of the pent up virulence and
viciousness Of the senator have beer
freely poured forth. Strangely enough
at that time. and with the same ability
then as 0 to learn the real facts II
the matter, Senator Pettigrew votec
for the passage of that measure, will
the result that it passed the senate. !.
| ~ p. ..., m &c ..< .
l. Since that time a line Of ships ha@
come into existence and after seyera
years Of. operation at a vast annua
loss has demonstrated the wisdom o
Senator Pettigrew's vote of ten and
half years ago by proving the Insult
cheney Of the amount provided in 18th,
bill as it passed the house, the compen
sation in which was reduced in amour
one-third from that for which Senate
Pettigrew voted on July -, 1890. Blu
Senator Pettigrew has undergone !,
great change meanwhile, and the thing
he used to see through Republican eye
as justifable he now sees through Pop
ulistic eyes as unjustiflable. The con
ditions have not changed. They re
main the same, and. they happen t
justify the wisdom of Senator Petit
CREWS position upon public matters a
a time, long past unfortunately, whel
he commanded the respect and esteem
of. his associates and Of the country a
large. - I
~, 80 ,Tt
And SO 1t comes to pass that Senate
Pettigrew is performing the role Of a
obstructionist and the bitterest oppe
nent Of a measure because of a PROV
sion in it in 1901 that when in a sim.
lar measure in 1890 commanded hi
support and his vote. There is no ez
PLANTATION needed regarding the prov
sions of the measure ip question be
yond the one that the judgment OF Ser
ator Pettigrew, as shown by his vot