New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-06
THE REAL TROUBLE MAKERS.


The New-York Suns" Washington dispatches
represent certain Republican leaders greatly
concerned over the radical tendency" now dom
inant in party policy and party sentiment Those
leaders are beginning to despair of the future
and are already predicting the election next
fall of 4 Democratic House of Representatives.
II is said that Mr.. Babcock, chairman of the
Republican Congressional Committee in the last
six campaigns will decline to serve again in that
capacity. being out of harmony with radical
tendencies" and that consequently the Repub-
lican outlook is overcast. cherries and gener-
ally menacing. If Mr. Babcock does not lead
the Republican voters viii not follow. Mil
waukee will elect two Socialists TO Congress-
ton will unseat scores of radical Republicans
and give their places to still more radical Dem
ocrats. The next House, ii is argued, will be
Democratic. because the present House coquetted
with Democracy and was inconsiderate enough
TO propose railroad rate bill and other legisla-
ton which Democrats could and did support
1t is interesting TO note that these predictions
of Republican defeat come chiefly from states
men who have tried TO obstruct the Republican
programme of legislation in the House. are
now trying TO obstruct ii in the Senate They
pretend TO be extremely solicitous for the well
fare of the party. But In fact they are merely
are playing in trying to organize Republican dis
aster. Their logic is tortured and inverted, for
they see clearly that If the Republican party is
to be defeated next fall it is to be defeated be-
cause IL will have failed to give the country
legislation which the country demands The
House of Representatives has responded to pub
lie sentiment by passing railroad rate bill and
q Philippine tariff bill. Both those measures
received non-partisan support, because both were
recognized acceptable 10 the voting masses
in both parties But if the Republican 'insur
gents" in the House and Senate eventually have
their way. and these measures are defeated or
mutilated because of their radical tendencies"
whose will be the blame for the rebuke which
the country will be tempted to administer to the
political party in control of both branches of
the legislative department? Clearly it must be
borne by the Republicans in Congress who frus-
trated the public will. unless Ii is to be assumed
that the country will show its gratitude for the
check thus put on "unsound ideas" by electing
a House In which the insurgents" "stand pat
tiers" and other ultra-conservatives will have a
majority.
Republicans in Washington who fear party
defeat at the polls next fall can easily rid them
selves Of their fears. All they have to do is to
cooperate in securing the ratification of the
Santo Domingo treaty and the passage through
Congress of railroad rate bill. a Philippine
tariff reduction bill, pure food bill and few
other measures which public sentiment demands.
On such a record Congress could safely appeal
TO the country. In so far as that record had
been made with the aid of the Democratic mi
nority, No Democratic attack on ii would be
possible, and the Democratic party would enter
the campaign practically without an issue. But
If Republican Bourbonism defeats this pro-
gramme the Democratic party will be armed
with a dangerous grievance. And the leaders
who are contributing - for2r this weapon will
find 1t used TO drive them from public life.