New-York tribune., 1906-04-29
BENJAMIN R. Ti11man

vt is a common thing to see the Senate held up
to obloquv and contempt being a subserVlent
II instrument of trusts and monOpolies. One
- reads IN the newspapers and magazines the
most bitter denunciations OF the Senate as podE
because of its supposed subservence TO the moneyed
interests. When L first came to Washington
shared the fullest degree this teellng; but nave
come 10 believe after eleven years service IN the
Senate that there really few corrupt men IN H.
The vice of environment in Washington IS not 50
much that of rutocracy as Is that OF party sub
seryiencv. If there Is corruption in the Govern
1aent (and | do not pretend dispute this, 1t IS
not due the corruption OF individual men nearly
so much as it is to the corruption OF the party TO
which those men belong and ii we look Tor the real
cause of the popular clamor against the Senate we
viii ind this to he the cause.
The newspapers OF the country, controlled IN
great degree by the putocratlc influences which
dominate the party in power, have been seeking
to break down and destroy the respect OF the people
for the Senate for the sole purpose OF Kidding them
selves OF the last forum OF freedom IN tins country
The most strenuous effort has been made to compel
the Senate change its rules, to adopt the methods
OF the House and to do business, to use the cur
rent phrase by passing legislation demanded with
out discussion and the freest debate. The purpose
has been keep the people from knowing Just what
being done by their representatives IN aSh1ng-
ton. The House, as | have already SAID, IS gagged
OF its own free will and accord of Course-and
the attacks the Senate have had the same object
in view. to compel it to shut off debate and thus
leave the country without any forum in which the
great questions at issue can be discussed.
1t IS not going too far to say that the moneyed
classes who have aInassed such immense fortunes
have in large measure seized on the metropolitan
newspapers: and the news of the country IS sup
pressed coored to suit the purposes OF these same
interests. The news agencies and press assocla-
tIOns equally under this influence; that there
only medium through which correct lntorma-
ton to what IS going on at Washington can be
obtained and that is The Congressional Record. y
IanV newspapers, OF course, maintain their 1ndl-
Vidual correspondents in Washington, and these
send truthful accounts of what they and hear;
but the bulk of the news which the people are
allowed read is that which is calculated to do the
least harm to the interests which in control.
The Most August Tribunal"
It is q common expression to hear the United
States Senate described as the most august de-
Lucrative tribunal IN the world; and to a student
O. history and governmental affairs these words are
n no sense an eXaggeration. 1t IS equally common
t. hear the Senate abused in the most Vtuperatlve
manner and its members charged with beng the
tools and agents OF trusts and monOpohes. The
power Of the Senate Is very great, and this being
true II with it great responsibilities. The
Senate represents the States two members tor each
State, regardless Of territory population or wealth
The ninety Senators representing the torty-llVe
States exercise a commanding influence on all gov
o-umental affairs.
But there are great inequalities. New York with
Z population Of seven million two hundred and sixty
o-it thousand and with wealth almost beyond
computation, has only two Senators; while Nevada,
admitted 10 the Union 1904, although II IS two
York has only forty-two thousand three hundred
population, and vet has two Senators. 1t is a re-
C-4gHsla. 49, ly Tie Ass5i-.el sunday Magazines