The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-11-07
SENATOR MORGAN's POSITION.

Senator Morgan, of Alabama, cannot
see any good that would inure to the
democratic party or to the country were
! the former to gain control of the house
| of representatives in the next congress
! through today's congressional elections.
! In a recent interview he said:
Il do not gee that the democrats have
! anything to gain by controlling the
next house of representatives. l do
! not believe the democrats of this coun-
| try want TO constitute themselves a
| clog TO legislation; yet that result
would naturally follow. With the two
branches of congress of opposite politi-
cal faith, the government will be -eri-
ously embarrassed. There is nothing to
gain by a condition of this kind. 1t
would not be any advantage TO any
one"
We can see no sound politics in his
position. Because the republicans will
for the next two years control the other
branch of congress and the executive
department is no reason why the demo-
Gratis should not gain supremacy in the
lower house if they can do so. We
think Messrs Cleveland and German
express the better view. The formers
idea is that "a political contest must
be continual and all along the line. 1t
does not benefit a party to be beaten"
When asked if he thought a victory for
the democrats today would aid them in
the presidential election two years
hence Mr.. German replied that the
proposition is too absurd to admit of
proval the above words of Mr.. Cleve-
land. He also predicted that trust and
tariff would be the chief issues in 1904.
If you carry out Senator Morgan's
argument a little further it would lead
to opposition to a democratic victory
1904. According to his line of reason
ing it would not be we'll for the demo-
Gratis to elect the pres-Cent in 1904 for
then we would see the same "clog to
legislation we will have if they secure
the house of representatives in this cleo
ton. There would be a republican
senate to oppose a democratic house in
legislation and u democratic president
in making treaties and appointing fed
eral officials. If the house to be chosen
in 1904 should be republican, then, ac-
cording to Senator Morgan there would
be all the less reason why the demo-
Gratis should secure the executive. Car
rying his reasoning still further there
would be serious embarrassment of the
government unless the democrats could
at one and the same election secure
both branches of the legislative de-
partment and head of the executive.
The political complexion of the senate
cannot possibly be changed before 1906;
so he would put off our trial for election
of a president until 1908, and then only
on condition that the house was dem
ocratic also. This is a new kind of pol
itics Senator " Irgan has started and
we do not predict for him many follow
ers He loses sight of one other func-
ton of a house of the congress besides
legislation and that is investigation.
Six years have elapSe since the demo-
Gratis have hal sufficient strength in
either house to conduct an investigation
into any of the affairs of the govern
ment, and just now there are several
important matters which need the
searchlight of thorough investigation
turned upon them, and a democratic
house would be of vast Importance and
benefit to the country in this respect