Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-31

he spoken only in general terms; but
when he proceeded to mention names
and supply specifications he committed
the objectionable sin. The time-hon-
ored tradition known as the courtesy
of the senate is expected to cover a
multitude of sins. Now the senators
are taking their revenge. True, it is
a small and shabby revenge but these
are small men, many of whom were put
where they are because they are small
and could be used as q convenience.
The first method adopted was to desert
the senate chamber when La Toilette
had the floor. These tactics served
chiefly as evidence of petty spite, and
were only amusing because La Toilette
addresses a national audience, and 1t Is
not of the slightest consequence
whether senators whom he had de-
nounced as corporation attorneys were
there to listen, or kept away to nurse
their sores. Discipline for the insurgent
then took the form OF exclusion from
important committees. They made the
senator from wisconsin chairman Of
the committee on the Potomac water
front. 1t is a body without functions
and never holds meeting. La Toilette
was serving on lot OF unimportant
committees, and when vacancy ap-
peared on the public lands committee
he was suggested for the place. At
once Senator Hansbrough, the chair
man Of that committee, put in a stren-
uous protest. He did not want La
toilette on his committee, and his
wishes were respected. Then they put
La Toilette on the military committee,
and Senator Warren, the chairman, is
looking for the man that did 1T while
he was not looking. Senators appear
to be greatly afraid of man who has
contracted the inconvenient habit OF
telling the truth, and is neither a re-
specter Of persons nor even OF per-
sonages."
The Call sums up the attitude of the
cowardly senate when it says that
senators appear to be greatly AFRAID
of a man who has contracted the IN.
convenient habit of telling the truth
and is neither a respecter of persons
nor even OI p6ISOilp6SS'
Russian douma was not more COM
pletely terrorized by the Russian pu-
reaucrats than the United states con-
gress has been subjugated by the
AIdrichs and the Cannons, agents or tne
"interests," AS 1t is at present con-
stituted men like La Toilette have no
more influence in legislative matters
than the people Of California have in
the government of this state.
So long as the System" controls the
state legislatures which elect senator's
with here and there a notable excep-
ton, of which La Toilette is an eX-
ample, popular government VIII be as
great a farce as ever. Though the man
from Wisconsin may be shorn OF MS
mower as maker of laws, he never
theless occupies position where ne
NAV he. as he has been, tremendously
valuable as an educator, molder of
public opinion. And every slap in the
face which La Toilette receives at the
hands of his contemporaries In con-
gress is a, blow for the firm establish
ment of those principles of govern
ment known as the initiative, the ref
erendum and the recall.
Genuine popular government cannot
be secured in day, but the time Is
rapidly advancing when all thinking
men will agree that the only way in
which the insolence of the arrogant
attorneys of the System" In congress
may be effectively rebuked is through
the adoption Of those principles in
state government which will enable
voters to send to the national legisla-
ture men of their own selection; and
that this end may be accomplished,
direct legislation, the direct primary,
and the recall, above all, will be
found to be necessary.