Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-09-13

POLITICS
OF THO Dry.

Republican Policies.

ACpuoAASAh OAlGiSSs
Our Republican friends appear to be
much troubled about what the next
Congress shall do. All kinds of advice
and representations are being promul-
gated by the leaders and organs of the
different factions. The Republican
party is confronted with serious diff
ference of opinion on most important
matters, but the chief thing that both
ers the Republican leaders in Congress
Is how to serve two masters without
giving serious offense to either.
The biblical injunction that I'VE can
not serve God and Mammon" appears
to be lost on these aspiring politi-
clans, for though, of course, very anx-
1ous to serve the dear people. their I'M
derground connection with the Nam
mon of unrighteousness-the corpora
tons and their predaceous proprietors
is forever pulling them in the wrong
direction. The people are demanding
railroad rate legislation; the railroads
are determined against any such inter-
ference with their vested rights. The
people also want tariff reform, mt least
enough of it to prevent the trusts sell
ing cheaper abroad than here, but it is
dollars to doughnuts the trusts will
hold the whip hand. There is a def
cheney of millions in the national treas
ury, which must be provided for by
new taxation or extensive economy.
The question of digging the Panama
canal to sea level must be decided;
here again the transcontinental rail-
roads are Interested. Reciprocity with
Canada; free trade with the Philip
pines; Chinese exclusion and multi
tude of minor questions are pressing
for settlement and In nearly every case
there is some large interest that is pull
ing one way while the people are to be
best served in the other direction.
Speaker Cannon is said to be in
great tribulation over the selection Of
floor leader for the House of Repre-
sentatives who will help him to carry
out his "stand pat" ideas on tariff and
railroads. He is known to be opposed
to the Roosevelt policies and will ap-
point his committees accordingly; SO
that it will be impossible to get a
unanimous report on any reform legis-
lation, or perhaps any report at all on
the bills the administration favors.
1t will be dolorous days for the small
fry-the great majority of the Repnb-
licans of Congress-they will be be-
tween two fires; they must be friendly
with the speaker, or their local legisla-
ton will be jeopardized. They must
be welcome at the White House or
their hopes of patronage will go glim-
mering and even candidates for fourth
class postmasters will laugh them to
scorn. 1t is possible, of course, that
the President and the speaker may
agree to compromise-that is, for Con-
gress to do nothing of any great con-
sequence, except, of course, to make
speeches teeming with love for the
dear people, pass the appropriation
bills, with great claim for economy,
and go home trusting to the trusts and
corporations for enough cash to over
come the disgust of their constituents.
The Democratic members, being in
the minority, can do nothing. The
drastic rules of the Republican ma
jority will adopt will effectually pre-
vent most of them even having a
chance to express an opinion. But the
Democrats will, by keeping bold
front and acting together on all ques-
tons on the side of the people, so inn
press public opinion that the. voters
will entrust them with power at the
election of 1906.