Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-10-06
REMED
By W. j. BRYAN, IN
THE COMMONER.

Speaker Henderson's Withdrawal Reviewed.
Republicans Panic. Stricken by the Trust
Revolt In the Great West. Kansas City
Platform Strikes the Root Of the Evil.
Speaking of the withdrawal of Speaker
Henderson, Mr.. Bryan says in part:
Mr.. Henderson is the leader Of his
party in the house Of representatives and
he must have known that his abandon
ment of the fight for the reasons given
would weaken the very cause to which he
declared himself devoted. 1t must be
remembered, too. that the action was
taken without consulting those who share
with him the responsibilities Of leader
ship-taken on the very day when the
president and five republican leaders in
the senate-Hanna, Aldrich, Spooner,
Allison and Lodge-met at Oyster Bay
end decided to ignore the tariff question
in the present campaign. No wonder
the republicans are panic-stricksn no
wonder they are explaining it 90 various
and contradictory grounds. Some say
that Mr.. Henderson, finding that he could
not conscientiously represent his con-
stituents OH that question, withdrew as
matter Of honor, but how could Mr.. Hem
derson ASCERTAIN before election the views
OF his constituents? How could he
measure in advance the effect Of his own
speeches in influencing the views of his
constituents? II he, the speaker of the
house, with his great prestige. ability
and personal popularity could not hold
one Of the strongest republican districts
in the United States, what chance is
there for less conspicuous, less able and
less popular republicans to hold close
congressional districts? This explana-
ton, while credi.able to the speakers
candor ,ni honesty, is a confession Of
judgment against the republican party on
this issue, and repu ,licans cannot afford
to make it.
Mr.. Henderson has put his party in
position where it must condemn him in
order to save the party. 1t must charge
him with lacking leadership, with being
deficient in courage and unwilling to
sacrifice himself for the good Of the party,
or they must charge that ne acted in fit
OF passion and did not take time to con-
slider the widespread effect of his deed.
They must accuse him OF crime against
his party, or OF a blunder that is as dis
astrous as crime in its influence upon
the party.
Knowing OF General Henderson's devo.
| ton to his party and OF the bravery he
has displayed on many occasions, The
Commoner will assume that he recog-
nized the irreconciiable conflict between
his own views and the Iowa platform,
and rather than surrender his own con-
victions or embarrass his party in the
state he preferred to sacrifice his own
ambition without stopping to consider
how his conduct would dem )ral;ze the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in the republican
party and give increased prominence to
an issue which the national leaders OF
his party are trying to avoid.
This question is one which is likely to
make division in his party and its set
Element cannot long be postponed. The
republican party must reform the tariff
at the risk Of losing the entire system OF
protection or it must resolutely oppose
all tariff reform at the risk Of losing a
great many republican voters.
The other leaders OF his party we're at
tempting to delay consideration OF the
question in the hope that the agitation
would subside without the necessity OF
any action whatever, but General Hen.
derson's hasty move has focused public
attention on the subject and compelled
republicans to take sides.
The fight is now on and no one can tell
how extensive the disaffection may be or
how many republicans may be driven
out Of the party by refusal Of the manu-.
facturers and their advocates to make
any concessions to the consumers.
When Governor Cummins forced
through the state convention Of Iowa q
tariff reform platform, The CommoneI
pointed out that the platform might hold
republicans in line this year, bat that Il
would In the end educate them ont Of the
republican party II the party in the M.
ton refused to lower the schedules. The
work Of education u in progress. II The
republicans Of General Hsndsrsoa's die
tsict oil the speakers place with . tariff
reform republican he will hold the Cum
minis men bot lose the Hendesson mon
II the place 10 filed by . Henderson man
he will be necessarily weaker than Gen.
srsl Henderson himself. The chances,