The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1908-03-27

Washington, March 24>-R Mr..
John Sharp Williams, of Mississippi,
the minority leader makes good his
warning given in the house today
the republicans will be forced to
pass certain legislation or else meet
with obstruction at every turn by
him or his democratic colleagues.
Mr.. Williams declared up to now
the republicans had had smooth sail
ing. He did not want the country
to think that the minority was try
ing to assume responsibility for leg
islation. He did not desire to ap-
pear as trying to coerce the majority
Rntil the republicans had absolute
demonstrated before the coun-
try that they did not intend to do
anything at this session.
He had, he said, waiteG for the
republicans to do something. / have
finally come to the conclusion that
the republican party has forgotten
to do anything. 1t has become the
party of negation and of passiVity
and, as far as | can see, has nc idea
of doing anything. 1t is plain now
that without some method of par
~liamentary coercion you are going to
be deaf to every demand of the coun-
try.
Mr.. Williams then announced
that from this moment and for the
balance of the session this ~lie-easy-
wait-on-the-enemy campaign will not
be allowed, but coercion is going to
be exercised. No request for unani-
nous consent on the part of repub-
licans, he said, would be granted, un-
less it be to adjourn or take a re-
cess until the majority shows that
it is alive to the demands OF the
country" sufficient to report for con-
sideratiOn in the house such meas-
ures as an employers liability bill;
some bill for the publicity of cam
paign contribution, a free wood pulp
and free print paper bill, and a bill
against eX parte injunctions acting
as a superseceas of a law passed by
a sovereign state. prolonged dem
ocratic applause and manifestations
Of democratic approval greeted the
announcement.)
Consideration of the agricultural
appropriation bill was begun today.
The amount carried by the measure
is $11,431,3 46.
Continuing his filibuster begun
yesterday, Mr.. Sulzer, of New York,
forced the first reading of the bill.
Several pages had been read when
Mr. Sulzer withdrew his objection.
No limit was placed upon general
debate OF the bill.
The care with which the bill was
drawn vas explained by Mr.. Lamb,
of Virginia. In fact, he said, he did
not believe it possible for the SEN
ate to improve it.
Mr.. Lamb regretted that the bill
made no provision for the Appa-
lachian forest reserve thus robbing
the people of this country of the
benefits that must accrue therefrom."
The bill as reported by the com
mittee, Mr. Gambler, of Mississippi,
declared, did lot go far enough. He
compared the appropriation for the
department and said the farmers of
the country were entitled to better
conditions.
Mr.. Gambler charged that Speaker
Cannon removed him from the agri-
cultural committee despite the pro-
test of Mr.. Williams, the minority
leader, his colleagues and himself.
He said, however, that his interest
in agriculture had not diminished.
Thank God he exclaimed, the
speaker has not the power to pre-
e n my being heard on the floor"
Millions OF dollars, he said, had
been spent in brass buttons, battle
ships and for show to the neglect
of the department of the agricuI-
tural interests of the country and
still taxing them enormously to sus-
tain this marvellous expenditure and
not giving them back a due return
for the money which they are pay
ing out"
Mr.. Gambler insisted that the
farmers were not getting a square
deal. He urged liberal appropria-
tons for the development of the
agricultural interests, mot eXtrava-
giant and useless appropriations"
he said, but appropriations that
would be for the welfare of the the
country
The bill was laid aside for the
day, and the house adjourned.