The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-03-14
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
The Democratic Filibuster--Williams'
Leadership--Nev Secretary
of Commerce.
SPECIAL Correspondents.

Washington, D. C., March 5, 1908.
'sSow the wind and reap The whirl-
wind" That's what the republicans Of
the house and Senate Of the 57th on
gress have done and are doing IN the
closing hours Of this congress. They
have ridden rough shod over the min
GRITTY and now they are %repentiug in
sack cloth and ashes.
The 6libuster in the house and the
senate during the last week Of this con-
gress has been productive of great good,
not alone TO the people and their
Pocket-boOk by the decapitaton of
numerous bills that we're steals pure
and simple, but it has been a salutary
lesson to the arrogant majority. They
have been returned so often to power by
the votes Of the people in the last ten
years that they have come to look upon
the perquisites of office as peculiarly
their own, and that they could do as
they pleased ard the democrats would
sit down meekly and calmly and suck
tneIr thumbs as they have been dong
too long already because they have
ceen cursed with a sUpine and colorless
leadership. But, the wcrm will turn at
last, and sometimes a man refuses t
:urn The other cheek after being smit-
zen on one
This whole rumpus started when the
republicans committed the greatest
Outrage that ever was committed 10
The history Of national legislation in
this government, that is, when they
kicked out James j. Butler, of the 18th
district of Missouri, from his seat IN
this congress, twice without ryme or
reason. 1t was the most indecent and
indefensible piece Of %partIsanship ever
perpetTated.on the face Of the earth.
They had the power and they used
that power like a giant. 1t was simply
a case of might, and not the semblance
OF justice or Of d~ecency connected
Herewith. The democrats resented the
outrage and caused the tillbuster, not
so much 10 revenge for the indecent
p%artisanship OF the republican, but, as
the Hon. John Sharp Williams, of Mis-
sissippi, SAID the other day in one Of
mis- brilliant and inimilable speeches, 1t
was TO give the republicans to under
stand that they could not walk over the
minority with hobnailed shoes on VITA
out stepping on something that hurts.
Mr.. Williams will be the next floor
leader Of the democrats, by common
consent on the part Of the democrats Of
the next lhouse that be is the best
equipped man in the house for the
position, and the republicans will have
some hard shedding to walk oyer him.
They not only fear him, but they re-
spect him as well, and it viii be my
pleasure and privilege to give the read
ers Of this paper a pen sketch of this
brilliant man in the near future.
This ~fllbuster on the part of the
democrats has saved the people Of the
country not less than 500, 000, 900 in
jobs and petty steals that would have
gone through the republican house in
the closing hours of this last session.
The taxpayers of the country owe the
democrats a debt of gratitude for that
if for nothing else.
The democrats have been madder
than they have ever been since the
ffty-6rst congress when the Reed rules
were forced on them, and they have
given the republicans a gentle fore
taste of the future If the republican
majority in the next house attempt. to
play horse in the same way.