Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1902-04-25
REPUBLICAN, LEADERS ROUTED

REPUBLICAN, LEADERS ROUTED
The Republicans lost control OF the Houst
of Representatives on Friday last. BY vot
Of Ill TO 100. rs Republicans voting with
the Democrats, the Speaker, whose power
has been absolute, was overruled.
Party discipline Of the majority gave way
before divisions over the tariff question
The day was one Of tariff debate, and the In
tensity Of feeling which the subject aroused
proclaims It live political issue--one, per
haps, upon which campaigns 10 the near
future will be fought.
The division among the Republicans Il
one which reaches back into their districts
and 10 an echo from public sentiment al
home. 1t therefore may not be easily over
come hereafter. The split 10 the party Ii
accompanied with bitter feeling, the open
contention between members Of the same
party on the floor OF the House being spirited
and the private discussions In the CLOAK
rooms and Hobbies heated and often acrimo-
nious.
When the vote overruling the decision oil
the Chair was announced there was dem
onstration Of handclapping, swinging oil
arms and wild cheering. The vote by which
The amendment striking out the dliferential
duty on sugar was adopted was more de-
cislve than that by which the Speaker was
overruled, being 100 10 1906, but greater Gig
nificance attaches 10 the earlier vote, ss II
was most serious test OF party discipline
In the majority party. When the Cuban
Recprocity bill was finally adopted, with
the amendment objected 70 by the Repub
llcan leaders attached, the Democrats voted
almost solidly for II on the ground that il,
went little way toward the reduction Of
the tariff and 70 the extent might be regard
cd blow at the protective system.
The victory for the Democrats was rem
dered possible by the decision Of the Demo
cratic caucus that the minority should stand
solid together In support Of the right to
amend the bill 30 as 10 take the protection
of the sugar combines products. as well as
of the raw material. Ia the beginning there
was considerable difference Of opinion among
Democrats Hs 10 what policy would be best
10 follow with reference 10 the bill, but II
was demonstrated that they could act In
harmony in support OF proposition TO
further attack the protective system. Para
doxically, their victory was secured with
the aid Of most extreme protectionists, who
acted with them only TO burden the bill and
render II less satisfactory 10 the Republican
leaders, with whom they differed, and sepa-
rated from the Democrats when II came 10
vote on the bill.
Undoubtedly the knowledge that the Re-
publican leaders had tried 10 use the Crum.
packer resolution TO get votes In favor Of
the bill, both with Obstructing Republicans
aud with the democratic, in one case prom
Using the adoption of the Crumpacker prop
Osition and 10 the other promising 10 defeat
II, contributed 10 hold the Republican up.
position TO the House leadership together
The bill itself passed by q vote OF 247 TO
90. Practically all the Democrats voted ~
favor OF the measure, which makes reduc
ton OF 20 Per cent 10 the tariff rates OF this
country, while all oil the Republicans, with
the exception Of the beet-sugar men, who,
contrary TO general prediction stood together
10 the final ditch, took the same position.
The bill as II passed the House lie In very
peculiar shape. At the instance Of the beet
sugar men, led by Representative Page Nor
ris, Of Minnesota, II carries an amendment
providing for the removal Of the dIfferential
rates on ru6ned sugar. This Is q blow al
the sugar combine, The House adopted
this amendment by a strict Democratic vote,
with the support Of the beet sugar men.
The beet sugar men hoped that by the adop
ton Of this amendment they might defeat
the bill upon nnal passage, but 10 this they
were disappointed.
The beet'sugar men fought against sugar
competition with Cuba. BY the adoption
of the Morris amendment they court oppo
position from the sugar combine. They thus
increased their troubles 10 bold effort TO
defeat the bill. The stalwart Republicans
OF the House were forced into finally voting
for the bill by Administration Influences,
although nj heart IL Is said they were op
posed 10 its principles, and more especially
10 that feature which aims To cripple the
sugar combine. Thus the Republicans oI
the House are sorely tried with the sltua
ton aud are In very embarrassing position
on all hands.
The pet decision Of the Speaker, which
has been lying In wait, that tariff amend
ments 10 the bill were not 10 order on ac
count OF the fact that the measure is reci
proclty and not a tariff proposition, was
knocked In the head by the house.
The Democrats were practically solid
against the decision, while the beet sugar
men with surprising strength supported
them. There was great demonstration
when the beet. sugar men, mostly Western
ere, voted against the decision. As they
filed down the aisles 10 opposition To the
mandate OF the Speaker they were vocifer-
ously applauded by their Democratic col.
leagues. They had threatened To combat
the will of the Speaker aud they had lul
tllled their word. About 80 OF them voted
In opposition 70 the decision of the chair.
Since former Governor Frank Brown has
taken down his sign, there seems To he but