West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-03-07

watch the continued retreat OF the sub
sldy bin advocates.
senator Hanna Comuandcd them to
meet on the opening day OF the present
session and told his friends that the
bill would be put through during the
first week or so. Banlcd bit I'm this
contamination, he told the world
through the newspapers that the bill
would be passed before the Christmas
holidays. The senatorial satellites Join
ed I'm this glad prediction. and the myr-
lad members Of the subsidy hin lobby
ro-cchocd the cry from Dan 10 Beer
sheba. The time OF passage has been
gradually postponed until Il seems now
delightful possibility that the bill WIN
not be passed-at least not IN such
shape that It's syndicate fathers VIII
recognize it during the twentieth cen
tury. The gradual retreat I'm point OF
time is perfectly obvious
Equal retreat rs TO the provisions of
the measure Is shown by the state
ments of Senator Frye TO the erect
that the bill Is now 20 little like it's
original self that the criticisms upon
the bill as first reported do rot apply at
all TO the bill as now advocated. This
statement IS not at all fair. because
the underlying principles OF the meas
ure have not changed n particle. but
the doctrine Of retreat Is for that roa.
son the more clearly shown by these
statements OF the senator from Maine.
Another funny thing about Senator
Frye's admissions aud his continued
acceptance OF new amendments that
watching world has not failed TO under
stand Is that the bill as first presented
was 'as perfect rs human brains could
make IT," Even the gamIns I'm the gal
lery have wondered how perfected
bill could undergo such changes ns to
be by the admissions of its author no
more like it's original self than he To
Hercules. and still retain It's perfection
Indeed, the advocates OF the bill have
been from day TO day during It's con.
slderatlon indulging In n series OF lcgis-
lative gymnastics comical to behold.
Their backing and filling, their hem
ming and having, their pairing and
changing. their blufling and retrcating.
have placed them before an obseryant
public in IN attitude much worse than
that which commonly makes the angels
weep.
During recent days the press bureau
OF the subsidy bill people has been
working overtime. Having associated
with the old lobby managers the best
newspaper talent that could bc secur.
cd, this bureau has been making most
heroic efforts To convince the skeptical
public not only that this bill Is the
best bill that ever existed. but that it's
passage Is as sure as the eternal verl
ties. This bureau prepares daily state
mcnts OF what IL wishes TO appear ns
the real subsidy bill situation ana care.
fully monographs these statements
and places them upon the desk Of every
newspaper man I'm Washington who
Will In any probability use them The
temptation TO a fellow even slightly In
clincd TO lazincss Is very great TO send
out this well prepared matter. In this
way great deal of mlsinformatiOn
about the situation goes out as well TO
the papers which are Indifferent re-
gardng the subsidy bill as TO those
which directly favor It. That in spite
Of these efforts and the innumerable
other efforts made to demonstrate that
this IL n yirtuous bill on the sure road
to success. the great majority OF the
newspapers and OF the people OF the
country are opposed to the bill IS GER
tainly a proof that Intelligence and
honesty still predominant in this great
country.
During these crisp wintry mornings
the subsidy advocates both OF the
senate and of the ever present lobby
are getting up early and staying up
late. Nearly every morning two or
three knots OF them can be seen around
the Arlington, the Cochran, the Shore
ham and the various corners or the
capitol, intent upon the discussion OF
the situation. Hanna and Grlscom,
Frye and l.. II. Thurber, Grosvenor
and Alexander X. Smith, either OF the
Clyde brothers aud most anybody, arc
among the pairs frequently seen to-
gether I'm earnest confab At late
hours OF the night these and numerous
others may be observed IN the clubs or
the hotels talking this ever new theme
OF contemplated raid on the treasury.
The subsidy people continue TO pre-
sent bold front IN the declaration that
the bill will surely pass-thc opposition
arc equally bold In the declaration that
IL shall not pass And. In the language
- Aht GUILTY. ND9s iiif NIfllrritlti ilNNt
the "all undcrholt" The session IL
rapidly drawing 10 close. and a
dozen appropriation bills and mum
Der Of other important measures must
be passed. In the face OF these things
Che "hold up" OF the senate on the ship
subsidy bill cannot last long.
it has been seen that threats 10 de-
feat thc river and harbor BILL threats
- force an extra session and threats OK
all sorts Of b0gy men such as usually
frightcn senatorial children have all
failed of effect as applied in the inter
est Of this bul The fact is that the bill
is 50 bad and bald and bold a robbery
Of The whole people for the benefit of
bakers dozen OF mulumiili0nairc ship
ping interests that the mpurcbasable
opposition cannot afford TO give in
There are now ~ or 20 long speeches
against the bin already prepared 10y
senatorial opponents who are waiting
60 deliver them. The longest time that
thc subsidy people can hope 60 keep
hat measure in the place Of preference
cannot possibly be timc enough FOR the
delivery Of all these speeches Under
The circumstances failure is the pit In.
% which the bill must soon fau.
nmnN nzansnaAr