Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-17

that they were able in most Instances
to engage rooms in hostelries common
ly eschewed by all excepting the well
to do.
They pleaded orally, they pleaded in
written brief, and they pleaded through
political friends, but of q sudden eX-'
perienced chill, and that was the
point in the play when it seemed al
most that comedy was to be transform
ed into tragedy.
Play at Revision.
AT any rate, Mr.. Payne and his con-
freres underwent change of heart.
judged outwardly, and at this time
they manifest such savagery toward
defenseless representatives of special
interests that the latter appear to be
in danger of being hurled beneath
nightly juggernaut. driving which Is
Serene +. Payne, reientlessly passing
over an average of ten protectionists
a minute and having to his credit by
this time vast numbers of those who
heretofore have fattened at govern
mental crib. Act. No. j.
Devotees of political drama aver that
the next two acts of the Comedy of
the Tariff Will be side splitting in
deed and that none should remain
away from the playhouse who enjoy
high class stage work. Some Of those
who are in the confidence of the play
ers hint that the CHARACTER of the piece
will change quickly when act No.
begins-that is, when the special ses-
sion opens and real consideration of Il
tariff bill is under way.
And it is limited by those who should
| know that this fourth act will be fol-
lowed by one-the fifth-in which the
senate will be the scene and the grave
and reverend seignoirs the actors, for
the special interests representatives
have pinned their faith to the senate
and expect the ways and means com
mittee to make a play" at tariff re-
vision, with the understanding that
the senate will disagree, and therefore
the tariff bill will have to 60 to con-
ference. And such a conference as
that will be!
On the house side it will be com.
POSED Of three congressman of the Can.
MISUNDERSTANDING type and on
the senate end Nelson w. Aldrich ct Id
genus omne, which, being interpreted
means, land everything of the sort"
So cheering is this prospect that al
:eady, three months before his inaugu
ration, William Howard Taft is issuing
manifestoes in which he threatens We
toes for tariff bills not to his liking
PROBABLY none low living re member
any one not yet president talking We
toes Of bills to come. However, it illus
trates the situation to a nicely In re
spect to tariff revision and the Reput
lican party.
A Tragedy Of Government.
There is another side to this matter
serious side, an almost tragedy o
popular government. Patriotic citizen
wonder just how far such forces ma.
be carried and when the man Of pun
pose is to step In and really do some
thing logical and sincere.
"Ycu were supporting tariff revision
Of the real sort in the campaign"
said to one of those who were laborin
to prevent revision Of the real sort.
ibid you ever read Josh Billings?
he asked.
I confessed had.
do you recall when Billings said b.
= was willing that all of his wife's rela
lions should go to the WARP
That was familiar.
'Well," this patriot said, 1--WE ar
that way. The tariff should be revised
It's time 1t was torn to pieces ant
thoroughly remade, but we don't wan
ours disturbed. 1t must be the othe
fellows that gets revised"
| If the part Of a friend be to talk t,
his friends, let 1t be added here tina
that patriot was Democrat and tina
he is not lonesome either. Indeed
such things constitute the danger tina
the Democratic party will fail to meas
IRE up to its opportunity this white
and next spring and will permit thi
! magnificent tariff Issue to- be turned t