The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-04-08

OF Years Is Now Going on in thc
House Between Republicans and
Democrats-The Former Apply Gag
Rule to Prevent Fllibusterlng by the
Latter.
Washington, April i.--John Sharp
Williams, Democratic leader of the
house, played clever politics this
week when he showed up the hypoc-
i.sy Of the so-called "Big Five" the
fttle cotcris which, headed by Speak
er Cannon, runs the house Of repro.
Mr.. Williams put the Re-
rublicans on record as opposed to re-
moving the duty on wood pulp, de-
spite the presidents earnest recon
!nendaticn that this be done; to a law
prohibiting injunctions In certain la
tor cases, and tc the prompt enact.
ment Of an employers liability law.
1t IL perfectly obvious to those who
observe the course OF the house lead.
ers from q point Of vantage that Mr.
Cannon and his colleagues are at
heart opposed to c, cry reform, meas.
ure advocated by the president. It is
true that they mny try t., enact some
halfway measures merely To saw.
their own faces at the polls next No.
vember, but whatever they deem it
necessary as q matter Of self-preser-
vation tn do they will do with wry
faces. Speaker Cannon has himself,
for instance, introduced a resolution
calling on the secretary Of commerce
end labor TO conduct an investigation
Gf the combine which makes wood
fulp papers and keeps the price at
an exorbitant figure to every publish
er In the land But this resolution is
merely n ''grand stand play" q lid
to the uninformed. really intended t.
rain time and avert the necessity Of
action which would be offensive to the
wood pulp combine at this session Of
congress OF course an Investigation
VIII take time and while an inquiry Is
teinG Tndc tho peaker and his
friends will ASSURE the house s,spS tn.
country ttfat 1t would be quite tmprop
tr for congress to take any action.
A little side light is Thrown on the
hypocrisy OF the investigation resclu-
tom by THE fact that Senators Foraker
and Crane and Speaker Cannon have
jua been bending every energy to
secure the election Of the head of the
wood pulp combine as IN an,i-Taft
delegate to the Republican national
Cczwenticn from Massachusetts.
Speaking Of Cannon. Crane ct al Wed.
sestay. April I, proved a great April
Fools day for the dictionaries in
Massachusetts,. Sen<itor Crane 'hal
teen assuring the reactionary faction
ef the Republican parity that he would
place Massachuse It's at the head and
front OF the reacti0nary column with
a solid ahti-Taft delegation to In. ma
tional convention The voters. NOW
ever. thought otherwise and IS a com
sequence they elccted q Taft dele
JHtcs out of total Mf 80 and rnade
such a demonstration Of their approv-
III OF 'thc Taft candidacy that 1t Is now
regarded as doubtful # the, ~ unit
Taft delegates Will dare to wot..
aEainat the big Ohioan :at Chicago.
The ext.nt I" which pdlittcs is in
tertarring with legislation is appill-
ing. For instance, all this pest week
the senate has been ready to pass the
child labor bill for the District Of
Columbia. This is motel bill and
the opponents Of child labor rcgaR.
it as OF the utmost importance that
the national legislature shc1Ild pas.
such n hill which will prove most
salutary example as we'll as a model to
every Sta1e in the Union. Nothing has
been done, however. because Senator
Beveridge has been absent attending
the Republican state convention in
Indiana and before leaving ne asked
that the bill be held until his return
so that ne might offer his national
child labor bill! as an amendment. OF
course the matter has been held up
1T his request despite the fact that
there is not the slightest chance OF
Its being adopted. Probably there ar,
lew sincere and honest men who
would like to see child labor abolish