Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-01-18
HILnINer0N, 4HUEADAY, IAN. IS
nIsomlAnaoua aEooan
PrIoe of presIdant,s VIetory.


The passage of the Philippines bill by
the House of Representatives at Wash
ington, on Tuesday afternoon was a vic
tory for President Roosevelt, but Il was
victory purchased at the price of Repub-
lican unity. The Presidents triumph
was achieved through the aid of Demo
cratic votes, and the number of Republi-
can votes cast against the measure on tho
FINAL roll call indicated only a portion of
the extent of tile Republican division.
For Republican votes were secured through
the coercive powers Of the White House
and how many of these may be relied upon
TO stand by the President during the entire
session of Congress is predetermined.
The vote on the final passage of the bill
was 25S TO "a. OF the negative votes
80 were east by Republicans and i2 by
Democrats. OF the affirmative votes.
los were cast by Democrats. Had the
latter voted solidly against the measure,
il would have been lost.
But no desire of sustaining President
Roosevelt actuated those Democratic
members who voted for the bill and thus
saved it from defeat. They supported 10
because it was free trade measure. 10
grants a certain degree Of free trade with
the Philippines at once, and provides for
absolute FREQ trade after April, 1909. John
Sharp Williams Of Mississippi, leader of
the Democratic minority in the House,
lined mp most of his Democratic colleagues
in support Of the bill on the plea that the
Democrats could well afford 10 support
any measure that involved favorable con-
sidcmtion Of free trade or tariff reform.
regardless Of the political or other con-
sidoratons which might aotuate the Re
publican members in supporting it. Il
was on these solid grounds alone that such
a large proportion of the Democratic MEM
bers gave their votes 10 the measure.
The discontinue of the administration
Republicans in thus having to acIxnowl-
edge obligations to the Democratic mem
bers for their success is accentuated by
their previous boastful attitude. Only
a few days ago Serene Il. Payne Of New
York, the Republican leader Of the House
tauntingly assured leader Williams that
the bin would be passed without the aid
Of a single Democratic vote. The result
was a dismal shattoring Of this boastfu
prediction.
The fate Of the bin in the Senate will
4 increase the extent and intensity Of th,
Republican division. Even should il
pass that body, its success as in the House
would be due very largely to Democrat,
votes; but while most of the Democrati,
Senators are favorable to Il. Il is doubtful
II they will be permitted to vote upon il
Republican Senators are almost solidly
opposed to the measure, and the prediction
is freely made that it viii be smothereo
in committee and never be permitted "a
see the light OF legislative day.
The fight between the Republican ma,
iority aud the administration, therefore
Is fairly under way, and it is bound to con.
tinue after the end Of the session. Ever
should the President succeed, by the in,
lfiuenoe Of Federal patronage with Repub-
lican senators and the aid of Democratic
Senators who are in favor of free trade
in forcing the Philippines bin through IN,
Senate, he cannot succeed in quelling the
Republican rebellion No matter which
way he moves he win encounter resist
ance and engender revolt. The use OF
Federal patronage on Senators will inten.
siiy the opposition Of Republican Repre-
sentatives, who have been robbed Of ever
the minor postmasterships to provide
more pap for hungry Senatorial maws
The enactment of the bin through the aid
OF Democratic votes viii bring down the
wrath Of the proteotionists upon the Presi,
dents head, with renewed vigor. Ant
failure viii make more bitter than ever IN,
fight between the Republican factions.
And thus il is that the Presidents vic
tory in the House was dearly purchased
And his efforts to win in the Senate vii
only add to the cost. The war between
the Republican majority in Congress ans
the administration is now being fought
in the open.
The late Marshall Field made his enor