Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-30
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor Scenes and incidents sketched


on the Spot.
The gravest problem perplexing the MEM
bers Of "the most august assemblage in the
world" onicially known a. the United
States senate, is to invent an effective
means OF impresslng senatorial dispieasure
on Senator Robert Marion LsFollette OF
Wisconsin weighty subjects OF state van
lsh from the senatorial mind when the
specter OF LaFollette looms up. The un-
tanned colt from the Badger state has been
doing things during the summer recess, lie
has talked out OF school, told some iFritat-
Ing stories about his associates and in gem
eral conducted himself in a manner highly
disagreeable to shifty senator's
Senator LaFollette carried on a unique
campaign for popular rights during the
summer. He would make a speech under
the auspices OF some chautauqua or Young
Mems Christian association, and he would
come armed to the teeth with rollcalls
taken in the senate during the previous
session. Then he would start in something
after this fashion;
| II am going to read you a few rolloalls
70 show you how your senator's voted The
newspapers no longer print rolicalls except
| on the passage Of important bills. A sena-
tor can betray the interests OF his constitu-
| ents dozen times in a session by his vote
and his constituents will never know II, un-
less they can afford to subscribe to that
expensive publication, the Congressional
Record. Some one ought TO keep the public
posted, and as no one else seems to have
the time ! am taking little tour around
the country doing II myself"
Then he would proceed to read the roll
calls on ten or twenty propositions offered
In the senate for the purpose of strang-
ling some trust or striking some octopus.
] On he 90
in whose state he happened to be would
be recorded in favor OF the octopus.
These interesting and irritating rollcalls
we're sprung in New Jersey, Indiana, Kan
sas and Utah. perhaps in other states, and
provoked ebulitions of senatorial wrath
which is increasing In volume as the VIC
tins move on Washington and compare
notes. Something must be done with the
free lance from Wisconsin or senatorial
dignity will perish.
Golfers Weekly pays this tribute to his
work.
During his first four months in the United
States senate Robert NJ LaFollette ex-
posed and stopped the sale and leasing of
coal and asphalt lands in Indian Territory.
He led the fight which kept the records
open until there can be a fun investigation
of alleged CRAFTS in Indian Territory.
! He delivered the most exhaustive speech
that was made on the railway rate bill
He forced the passage of an employers
| liability act. He forced the passage of
resolution authorizing the Interstate Com
merce commission to investigate railway
! and elevator companies for the purpose of
discovering whether a combination exists
between them by which the farmer is
robbed.
He forced the senate to consider his reso-
luton reducing the hours Of labor on rail-
roads to the interest Of public safety.
He introduced bills providing for the
block system on all railways Of the country.
Senator LaFollette is a true embodiment
Of the popular spirit Of disapproval which
has been aroused against the body Of which
he is new member.
He hangs on the tanks OF his colleagues
and watches for opportunities to raid. lie
surprises the enemy and catches them in
awkward situations.
LaFollette is ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS has
Ions been a matter admitted in theory
that one man may be a host In the senate;
II only he be willing to pay the price, and
to play the game. It is a bold game. But
he has plucked the tail feathers from sew
eral magnificent gentlemen. The game is
still young. His enemies will remember.
| DNN eAiN RSDPAS WIZ NV AbA6NNs
! Congressman sulzer represents a densely
populated district on the east side Of New
York City. II occurred to him some months
ago that though there are no gardens In
his district, some of his constituents might
grow plants in boxes placed on window
stills Of fire escapes. So he sent an nssort-
/ ment Of seeds to the inmates OF
model tenement house owned by one Of
! his friends The latter met him few
days ago and said "See here, Sulzer, I
want you to cut out that seed business.
It's the limit" 'why what's the matter?"
asked the astonished sulzer and he ex-
planned why he had sent the seeds. "Oh,
you meant well. al. right" returned the
friend scornfully but when 1 visited the
place the other day found that about ten
families were raising cabbage, cucumbers
and tomatoes in the bath tubs"
1.-THE president. who is himself but a.
years Of age. believes in putting respon-
sibilities on young men-after trial." says
the Outlook commenting on cabinet
changes. Mr.. Cortelyou is but a years Of
age, Mr.. Meyer As and James r. Garfield,
who on the retirement of Mr.. Hitchcock
I will become secretary Of the interior, is
| hut a. I doubt whether so young a body
| was ever before intrusted with the admin
!stration of the federal government as the
one now charged with It's direction. Mr..
Garfield belongs to what Is known as the
tennis cabinet" of the president because
he Is one of a group who often Join him
in that recreation. Whether a fathers
reputation Is n help or a handicap 20 a
young man depends on the young man.
''Both the sons of President GARFIELD have
made good their fathers reputation. James
r. Garfield is OF slight figure, with the face
( and frame rather OF an academcion than
Of politician. He Is not a lighting man.
but he can night for his convictions when
the occasion arises. have seen him main
tain his ground in favor Of radical ad-
vance on certain lines. not only against
the older eounselors OF the president but
also against the president himself, with
an admixture OF modesty in himself and
confidence In his position which was as
effective as Il was DELIGHTFUL. He has been
heart and soul with the president in his
campaign to bring the great corporations
under governmental control and, our read
ers may remember, was the one to suggest
that the federal government could make
that control absolute by the simple expe-
dent Of requiring any corporation which
,-rgah -, gV Interstate -