Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-01-25
STAND ON THEIR MERITS.
Prospects for Passage of the Army
and Ship Subsidy Bills in
n the Senate.
GREAT MEASURES NOW IN DEMAND.
Have Been Fnvorably Reported On
by Two successive COngresaes-.
Undeserved Opposition Attributa-
bic Only to FiIibustering Tactics.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Washington, Jan. a.
Before these words will reach the eye o.
The reader, doubtless, the army reorgan'za
ton bill will have been disposed OF in TN
senate. At this writing the majority arr
90 wrought up over the flibusterlng tactics
pursued by 4 few pom.ists who have been
discredited by their own home states, ano
by few renegade republicans, who feel thai
they must oppose everything that vii! in any
way strengthen the hands of the admins
tration, that there is every indication oil
some vigorous taking, and, if that don't
work, then some vigorous action, that shan
effectually squelch these hypocritical enc
mics of American progress.
As matter Of fact, when the people, BY
their votes, in last November, Endorsed the
administration and reelected President Nc
Kinley, the people also Endorsed the prln'
ciples and the po!ices advocated by the re-
publican party and by President Mckinley
These senators, however, who are now op'
posing administration measures, like the
army bill, for instance, know very well in
deed that they are attempting to thwart
the will Of the people in taking whatever ac'
ton may be necessary to force to the rear
where they belong these discredited pops
and renegade republicans.
The assertion has been repeatedly made
that the filibustering against the army bill
in the senate is not 50 much directed against
that measure as it u against the shipping
bill, the latter being another great measure
demanded by republicans in their state and
national conventions year after year, and
which has been before two successive con.
crosses, and twice favorably reported for
passage by both the house and the senate
committees having the bill in charge. But
it is being seen, now, that the shipping bill
does not deserve this aspersion. The army
bill, on its own merits, is opposed by the
flag ends of repudiated and discredited and
bobtail parties, solely to embarrass the pres.
ident, and to give aid and comfort to tho
nations enemies in the Philippines.
The shipping bill, too, stands upon its own
merits, and will, by The time this reaches the
readers eye have been restored to its po.
sition of precedence as unfinished business,
if it has not been passed by the senate,
After the experience which the members Of
the senate have undergone in the discussion
of the army bill they will be in no kind Of
. mood to sit tamely and permit the CO.
called "kickers" in the senate to occupy
time in flibustering And after the ship.
ping bill has be- n finally passed, it will be
discovered that he filibustering tactics Of
the pops and renegade republicans will be
just as much in evidence, no matter what
the measure that they may have under dis
cussion.
In short, the real purpose Of the filibus-
terers is to delay action on all administra.
ton measures, even the appropriation bills,
in order to embarraB the president and
compel him to call congress in extra ses-
zion. If this despicable plan is successful,
then these very people who have caused tho
extra session by preventing action upon i'm
portant measures during the time available
will be the first to excoriate the president
and the republican party, for what they will
charge as extravaganza, and desire TO put
through all sorts of ndefensible measures.
The worst Of it all is that, although the sin.
certify of number of these DIRECTORS has
ong been questioned, it is only recently that
heir personal honesty has been impugned,
ou. ouch pointed suggestions have been car.
ried from them to those in control Of at.
fairs on the other side that "for a consid.
.ration" they would cease their "opposi-
;ion," that the most unworthy of all mo-
ives now seems to be at the bottom of some
If the most active and malignant Of the op.
)onents.