The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-07

statements of the senator from Maine.
\! Another funny thing about Senator
Frye's admissions and his continued
acceptance of new amendments that a
watching world has not failed to UNDER
stand is that the bill as first presented
twas .'as perfect as human brains could
make it, Even the gamins in the gal
ilery have wondered how a perfected
bill could undergo such changes as to
be by the admissions Of it's author no
more like its 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 its con-
sideration indulging in series OF legis-
lative gymnastics comical to behold.
Their backing and filling, their hem
ming and having, their pairing and
changing, their bluffing and retreating,
have placed them before an .observant
public in an attitude much worse than
that which commonly makes the angels
weep.
During recent days the press bureau
et; the subsidy bill. people has been.
working overtime. Having associated
with the old lobby managers the best
newspaper talent that could be secur-
ed, 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 its
passage is as sure as the eternal veri
ties. This bureau prepares daily state
ments of what it wishes to appear as
the real subsidy bill situation and care,
fully monographs these statements
and places them upon the desk of every
newspaper man in Washington who
will in any probability use them. The
temptation to fellow even slightly in
clined to laziness is very great to send
out this well prepared matter. In this
way a great deal Of misinformation
about the situation goes out as well to
the papers which are Indifferent re-
garding 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 is q 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 of the
CAPITOL intent upon the discussion of
the situation. Hanna and Griscom,
Frye and F. B. Thurber, Gr0syenor
and Alexander Il. Smith, either of the
Clyde brothers and most anybody, are
among the pairs frequently seen to-
gether in 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 q bold front in the declaration that
the bill will surely pass-the opposition
are equally bold in the declaration that
| 1t shall not pass. And, In the language
of the country boy, the opposition have
the s.all underholt." The session il
1 rapidly drawing to close. and. 9
dozen appropriation bills and mum
1 Der Of other important measures mus
be passed. In the face of these things
the s'hold up" Of the senate On the shiI
subsidy piIl cannot last long,
IT lids been seen that threats to de
feat the river and harbor bill, threats
A to force an extra session and threats O
all sorts Of bogy men such as usual!
4 lfrighten senatorial children have al
failed OF effect as applied IA the inter
est Of this bill. The fact Il that the bill
i Is go bad and bald. and bold robher,
Of the whole people for the beneht Of
bakers dozen OF multimilli lionaire ship
ping interests that the unpurch chasabl
opposition cannot afford to give in.
There are now 15 or 20 long speeche
against the bill already prepared b,
senatorial opponents who are waitin
to deliver them. The longest time tina
the subsidy people can hope to kee
q that measure In the place Of preferenc
cannot possibly be time enough for tb
& delivery OF all these speeches Unde
& the circumstancea failure q the pit Il
Shich the nill must soon fan.