The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-26
Washington
Day by Day

Washington, April 25-lSpecial.) 1.-THE
Republicans are all at sea In regard to
reciprocity and sugar differential tariff
taxation; the Philippines controversy In
the political sense is growing In bitter
ness; the President and Freddie Funston,
Root and Chaffee are tanning the air
heH's to pay and no pitch hotr'
That was the somewhat emphatic sum
ming up of the present situation in Con-
gress as uttered this afternoon by the Old
est and most experienced newspaper cor
respondent in Washington. He had just
come up from the Capitol, and being
asked for his Views as to conditions there
he mopped his heated face and delivered
himself with characteristic yigor and
acumen. lie has been Washington cor
respondent forty-three years, and always
a Republican.
The truth Is, the wisest man In Wash
ington couldn't tell you today what will
occur in Congressional and national poll
tics tomorrow. The veteran correspond
ent says he never before observed things
Congressional and political so badly
mixed and not since 1872 has he seen such
a radical division in the Republican par
ty. The proudest tradition Of that party
is that 1t has always got together"
Maybe 1t will maintain that tradition
during the coming six or seven months,
and the subsequent twenty-four months.
but at the moment that contingency
would seem to be doubtful.
The combination between the Demo-
Gratis and the 'insurgent" Republicans on
the Cuban reciprocity bill brought into
disrepute and disgrace three Republican
leaders who had previously owned the
House as completely as II they had pur-
chased It as an odd-end in a rummage
sale. They lost possession of the property
which they had employed to silence the
claims of the American people, and at
present there is no apparent way where
by they may regain control of that power
which made for unrighteousness and OPP
precision. Like hungry bears, Henderson,
Payne and Dalzsll are feeding upon their
own paws, while they scheme for the re-
covery OF the big honey-jug honey.
The masters of the Senate and the dis
graced former masters of the House be-
leve they have agreed upon final plan
for Cuban reciprocity, as well as for the
exclusion of the Chinese; and it is quite
possible that the Insurgents and
blanket Indians" OF the Republican
House may be cowhided into finally agree
ing to what the masters say: but all the
freebooters of Dingleyism and the unani-
mously wild Chinese exclusion member
ship CT the Houss have got 20 recaon
with the Democratic minority in the Sen
ate, the last defense of popular govern
ment in America.
In the one solitary instance of the Cuban
bill, the House took the bit in its teeth
and ran away; but otherwise, as hereto
fore made plain, the House has demon
strated itself to be mere cash-register
of three men who conduct the shop. The
only reasonable hope of the people now
abides in the Senate. 1.-THE Senate was
never before so strong TO defend the
people and maintain the constitution
against the wild elamor of the hour
declared Senator Hoar two weeks ago,
and that great man spoke as prophet
of the peoIle
The Repaa1can masters of the people.
from Mr. R.epevelt and Mr.. Henderson
down to young Freddie Funston and poor
old Grosvenor, bid us all to be good till
the war in the Philippines is over-till
the end of the war which they declared
three years ago to pc then ended. But
the American people won't be good that
way-they won't hold their tongues of