Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-24
DEFENDS HIS COURSE.
Towne Tells Why He Left Republican
Ranks

Mr.. Towne of New York when he rose to
ADDRESS the House of Representatives to-
DAY under general debate on the diplomatic
Dill was accorded ovation by his asso-
ciates on the democratic SIDE a number
of republicans joining with them In giving
him friendly welcome. His first SEN
tence. Il rise to make some observations
to this House, why the republican party
should be driven from power and the dem
ocratic party intrusted with the reins of
government outlined the trend of his ad-
dress Following closely in the footsteps
of the speech made by Mr.. Charles B.
Lands of Indiana yesterday. interest cen.
tered in Mr.. Towne, who was expected to
answer the stand pat" speech of the gen.
tleman from the Hoosier state.
Mr. Towne prefaced his remarks by an
allusion to the speech made by Mr. Cush-
man {Wash.). whom he denorninated the
Funny fellow Of the republican party
ingly of the change in Mr.. Towne's politics
To this Mr.. Towne replied that If he had
been content to swallow the prescription
given him by the republican party he would
still be in the republican ranks with 10000
majority at his back And he believed he
could have continued In Congress for fifty
years
Instead, however, the republican party
changed Its position on the money question
between 1888 and 1896. and as he desired to
be in a position to champion honestly his
convictions, and as the republican party
had no convictions during those years. he
got out OF the republican party.
He conceded that the democratic party
had made tactical error in 1896 when 1t
committed itself to the ratio of 10 to l. the
republican party being dextrous in taking
advantage of the affirmative position of the
democracy.
Democracy he said, Stands in princi-
pie today where it stood In 1906 We do not
demand free coinage today. Why? Because
we do not need it."
Declares President Is ManacIed
In the course of his speech, Mr.. Fowne re-
ferred to President Roosevelt as a bound
and emanacIed follower of the chariots OF
the Duke of Rhode Island" meaning Sena-
tor Aldrich. Mr.. Towne said further that
1t was always unfortunate when a question
of veracity was raised between the chief
executive and a distinguished citizen. but
1t was remarkable that the present chief
executive had raised the issue of veracity
with almost every public man with whom
he had come in contact.
THAT statement is too broad" cried Rep
resentative Payne of New York. the repub-
lean floor leader. II hope the gentleman
VIII not let that go in the Record"
1 will modify It," returned Mr. Towne
Il will say that he has raised the question
of veracity with great many public men.
The returns are not all in" Uaughter)
Mr.. Towne referred to the recent contro-
rersy in regard to the rate bill as very near
a scandal
He said that the President by his action
had thrown down the democrats and that
the rate bill In consequence was now a par
tisan measure, instead of non-partisau
one, which 1t originally was Intended to be.
He asserted that Roosevelt in the last ma
tional campaign had saved the republican
party from defeat, but that Roosevelt,
through the Senate coterie that rules the
republican party, had kept himself out Of
the way for further service in this line.
Consequently the fight in the next national
campaign would be against the republican
party alone. for Roosevelt had put his neck
in the party yoke.