The Washington times., 1907-01-13


in a secondary way the general atti-
tude Of the Democratic Representatives
toward the partys Presidential outlook.
Radicalism the Question.
But on both sides Of she party line
II f. the same contest-ihe conserva-
tivas against the radicals on the re
publican side the leadersllp Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt toward Pre- eressive iieas
Is challenged on the Democratic. the
question in "a BROAD way is as 10 loW
FAR the party should g. toward r8di-
cahsm.
Between SOW and the time when the
gavels will fan by way OF canng "a
order the two great national conyen
tons. these pren0nit0ry symptoms lr
Congress win have core % look. iu
retrospect. like very insignificant temp
ests IN extremely mimportant teapots
But 1ust now they are Of real lm-
portance as Indicating the drift OF
things.
Williams Faces Rebellion.
There is no doubt that John sharI
Williams mas rebellion on his hands. II
bias been brewing a long time IL Is
deiermined 90 blossom and become rev0-
luton, 10 revolution Is possible and il
has chosen as It's leader Champ Clark
Mr.. Clark was well chosen by the mer
VINO wanted TO unhOTse Williams. lie
is able. experienced, elJIueut, indus
triou- quick with his tongue and yet
keeping b. well Drid.ed He Is a hu-
morist too. as is John sharp" iu fac,
IA q
that would Dee descriptive Of one as Of
the other. And after they had been thus
paraIeled throughout the whole cate
CORY of description lt would have TO De
explained that they were not q bit alike
For they are not
Clark's Advantage
AR Clark has one advantage. He is
from Missouri, which IS "a close State
and "a border State. Geographically.
he is decidedly in advantage as COM
pared 20 ar Williams. Perhaps he
would make as good a leader as Mr.
Perhaps he would nos per-
nit so much friction within the ranks
OF his followers Perhaps he could
distribute the committee assignments
without causing any heart-buTuiugs
ana appointments and soreness.
His supporters believe. at any rate.
that he could do it better than Mr..
Williams has
This House rebellion is not altogether
easy % aHalyze but a few things are
quite plain about il. john Sharp VII
Iiams has been leader in two Congresses
and naturally has been storing up wrath
against the day OF wrath He rlsked
a great deal-needlessly. perHaps-when
he accepted "Uncie Joe" Caunon's prop
0siuon that De tWuliams) make The
Democratic committee assignments.
There was certain 10 be grief and dis
appointment in it Tor him.
Williams Accepts Task.
He accepted the proposition on the
theory that IL was part OF the response
biity OF leadership. and that 20 shirk Il
would be selfish and cowardly. BY as
Stunning ia, he was able TO organize his
following To suit himself; 70 post his
soldiers where they could give the best
service. He considered IL part OF the
duty OF leadership that he could not
properly avoid. So he named the minor
ity assignments. and laughed at people
who told him that it would ultimately
break his hack. BY doing IT, he gave
the minority a more effective oTgani-
cation than it could have had otherwise.
but he had 10 assume upon his own
shoulders the burden OF disappointed
hopes and ambitions that was inevitable.
Disappointments Follow.
These disappointments are 10 be set
down as one OF tie large elements in
the present situation. Then there has
been something of a feud between Mr..
williams and William r. Hearst. Mr.
Williams has said some sharp things
about the Democratic editor. who has
replied in kind. Hearst has some fol-
owing. Pretty closely related 10 this
group Is a bunch of Democrats who
believe that the party ought 10 take
up the issue of Government railroad
ownership. These are the ultra-radicals
OF the party, and they feel that Mr..
Williams is hopelessly opposed To their
whole idea of party policy. Mr. VIII
liams Is for getting the party pulled
and holding il together, The
tariff is mis- speciality. He believes il is
the issue on which the Democracy
stands its best chance to win. Anybody
who has watched his leadership for a
month cannot bat know that He isn't
for tie ultr aideas in any direction.
Jedersonian Democrat
He is a JenersOnian DemOcrat-just as
all the rest of them are Williams be-
Heves in the sort Of Jenersonianism
which prescTibes the least possible meas
ure of government interference with
concerns of the citizens or of business.
ownership and everything
else that smacks of decentralization
does not sound good 10 him. lie is In
stinctively opposed.
This, OF course. is a fundamental diff
ference. II il the difference that in a
phase Is stirring OF the oppos-
ing factions OF the Republican party
Air Williams Is not Tor Government
ownership as an issue. lie doesn't be-
lieve IN il as either an issue or "a policy
He doesn't think that the Democrats
would thrive on IL as an issue. or that
the country would prosper by d as a
policy To those who would commit the
party Ia that policy. Mr. Williams looks
too conservative; just as tho leadership
of Aldrich NAV be imagined 10 look
20 Ia Toilette
These Government ownership advo-