Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-01-23
Prospects for Passage of the Army
and Ship Subsidy Bills in
the Senate.
GREAT MEASURES NOW IN DEMAND.
Have Been FnvorabIy Reported On
by Two Successive COngresses-
Undeserved Opposition Attributes
BILE Only to FiIibustering Tactics.
Especial Correspondence

Before these words will reach the eye Of
the reader, doubtless, the army reorganiza-
ton bill will have been disposed Of in the
senate. At this writing the majority are
so wrought up over the filibusterng tactics
pursued by few populists who have been
discredited by their own home states, and
by few renegade republicans, who feel that
they must oppose everything that will in any
way strengthen the hands of the admins
tration, that there is every indication Of
some vigorous talking, and, if that don't
work, then some vigorous action, that shall
efectually 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 Me-
Kinley, the people also Endorsed the prp-
ciples and the polices advocated by the re-
publican party and BY President Mckinley.
These senator's, however, who are now OPP
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 &C
ton may be necessary to force to the rear
where they belong these discredted pops
and renegade republicans.
The assertion has been repeatedly made
that the flibustering against the army bill
in the senate is not so muoh directed against
that measure as it is 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 favoraby 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 it's own merits, is opposed by the
fag ends of repudiated and discredited and
bobtail parties, solely to embarrass the pres
ident, and to give aid and comfort to the
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 So
called "kickers'' In the senate to occupy
time in flibustering And after the ship
ping bill has been finally passed, it will be
discovered that the flibustering 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 flibus-
| terers is to delay action on all administra-
ton measures, even the appropriation bills,
| in order to embarrass the president and
compel him to call congress in extra ses-
| sion If this despicable plan is successful,
| then these very people who have caused the
| extra session by prevent ting 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 indefensible measures.
| The worst of it all is that, although the sim
cerity of a number of these directors has
| long been questioned, it is only recently that
| their personal honesty has been impugned,
| but such pointed suggestions have been car
| ried from them to those in control of af-
| fairs on the other side that for a consid-
| Grafton" they would cease their "opposa-
| ton" that the most unworthy Of all mo-
| tives now seems to be at the bottom of some
| of the most active and malignant of the OPP
| ponents.