The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-12-28
SIxTlE'TH CONGRESS,
Minority Practically a Unit on
All Issues.
REPUBLICANS ARE DIVIDED.
Currency Question Likely to Give
Them Much Trouble--TariH Revision
Another Bone Of contention--The
Charge Of sectionalism Against the
Democratic Psrty-The Solid West.

AUovUoT OOU0 Or NoUeoVss0tf-tU Uo
Charge Of sectionalism Against the
Democratic Psrty--The Solid West.
BY WILLIS J. ABBOT.
The Sixtieth congress opened with
the best imaginable opportunities for
the Democratic minority. II Is prac-
tically a unit on all issues. In the
caucus of the house of representatives
there was not one voice raised against
the reelection of John Sharp Will
liams as leader. Hon. Champ Clark, a
veteran representative with seven
terms to his credit. said the day before
this letter was written: "rhe Repub-
licans are now divided on the sort of
legislation that should be passed. espe-
clally in regard TO the currency. On
the other hand. the Democrats are
united. Because of the much smaller
majority held by the Republican party
I'm the house we shall have more
chance Of outvoting It on important
measures. The truth of the matter is
that the Republicans have been found
out For ten years they have been
preaching that the Dingley tariff was
responsible for all our wonderful
prosperity. The Dingley tariff is still
with us, but the prosperity has been
given blow. If things go on the way
they have been going, Mr. Bryan will
be elected president of the United
States as sure as you are born"
Evidences Of Republican Dissension.
Mr. Clark has been somewhat ridi-
culed for describing the Democratic
party In congress as united and the
Republican party as split into factions.
Let me take up the case of the latter
party first.
President Roosevelt insists that he Is
not candidate for the presidency.
About half his party are trying to
force denomination upon him, the
other half plotting secretly to avert
what they rightly think would be a
fatal blow to their party's success.
The president writes Secretary Cor
telyou that there will be prompt cur
rency legislation in this congress.
Senator Allison. Speaker Cannon and
all the prominent leaders Of the party
announce that thcie will probably be
no currency legislation, or II any is
completed 1t Will lie at the very last
moments of the session.
Postmaster General Meyer recon-
mends the establishment of postal saw
fu no In vIro mud n M rcaIs rns.f Cpookov
Cannon assures an Interested public
that neither measure can secure at.
tention.
Tariff revision Is demanded by one
third Of the Republican members Of
congress- and probably four-nfths Of
the constituents Of all. but the speaker
and two-thlrds Of the members Of
house and senate, being tied to the
protected industries. bitterly oppose il.
The presidents admirable plan OF
interior waterways has the opposition
alike Of the speaker and Mr.. Roose-
velt's personal candidate for mayor Of
Cleveland, Mr.. Barton, who holds the
commanding position of chairman of
the committee before which the propo-
SltiOn must be Drought.
1t is fair to say that the clash be-
tween the divergent forces In the Re-
publican party would better be de-
scribed as growing hostility among
the men ut the capitol to the man at
the White House. Speaker Cannon has
his forces well In hand. There will
not be much apparent divergence of
opinion between Republicans IN debate
unless the president is able to find
some stronger spokesman In house or
senate than he now possesses. The
general impression now is that the pro.
gramme Of legislation for this session
Will be dictated Mt the capitol and that
1t Will be as brief programme as pos.
sible.
As for the Democrats, they are, of
course, because of their small mum.
Der, impotcnt to accomplish any legis
lation, though they can block some
They will be rldiculed as being party
OF negation, opposing everything and
accomplishing nothing. But what else
can the party of opposition be? They
VIII oppose almost as unit the pro
jected asset currency law. They will
| press as unit demand for immedi
ate revision Of the tariff. At least
three representatives on the Democrat
ic side Will introduce bills of the great
est importance to the newspaper pub
fishers Of the United States, providing
for the admission free of duty Of al
materials entering into the manufac
ture Of print paper. The measures
won't be passed.
1t Is characteristic Of the timidity ol
the Republicans In touching any sub
ject which by any possibility might af
feet the tariff that President Roosevelt
who has posed as a revislonist IN thu
days Of long ago. explained that h,
would recommend only the abolition
OF the duty on wood pulp in order Il
save our forests, which were rapid,
being destroyed. In other words, h,
seems to think that his happy hunting
grounds are Of more importance thai
the newspaper business of the entr,
nation. 1t is fair to admit. however
that the presidents point Of view 4
not without some plauslbllity. Evel
now, with the duty In existence, ! learl
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