The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-04-02
WASHINGTON
From our Regular Correspondent.

From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, D. c., March 80, 1908.
Hon. John Sharp Williams, the
clever minority leader of the House,
executed a coup 'etat last week in
a speech in which he called the
Republicans to account for their
evident policy of 'passivity." He
said he had waited until the pre-
sent time to see some evidence of
an intention to transact business
which the people were demanding,
hit, finding none, he had reached
the conclusion that the time was
ripe to force the hand of the Repu-
blican party. An old-fashioned
Democratic hlibuster, comprising
objections to requests for unani-
nous consent, demands for roll
call at every opportunity. and the
raising of points of no quorum, will
be resorted to during the remainder
of the session by the minority in
the House, unless the Republicans
bring in an employers liability bill,
campaign publicity bill. bills re.
moving the duty on wood pulp aud
print paper, and an anti-injunction
measure. Mr.. Williams declared
that, up to now, the Republicans
had had smooth sailing ; that he
did not want the country to think
the minority was trying to assume
responsibility for legislation. He
did not desire to appear as trying
to coerce the majority, until the
Republicans had absolutely ode
monstrated before the country that
they did not intend to do anything
at this session" II have finally
come to the conclusion" he said,
"that the Republican party has for
gotten to do anything. 1t has be-
come the party of negation and of
passivity, and, SO far as I can see,
has no idea of doing anything. 1t
is plain now that, without some
method of parliamentary coercion,
you are going to be deaf to every
demand of the country"
***
Apparently there is no abate-
ment in the discussion among law
yers in Washington and at the
Capitol of the Supreme Court de-
cision in the Minnesota and North
Carolina cases. The so-called adj
vocates of States rights contend
that the decision ignores the
eleventh amendment to the Consti-
tuition and ignores State courts,
multiplying recent State statutes that
have fixed passenger rates, etc.,
while the other side opposes this
view with the positive contention
that the Supreme Court seeks only
to confne its reasoning to constitu-
tional limits and Interpretation.
There is also much speculation
as to what the court will do with
the fine of $40, 400, 900, which
Judge Kenesaw Mountain Lands,
of the United States District Court
OF Chicago imposed last fall upon
the Standard Oil Company Of Indi-
ana, for rebating. That remarka-
BILE fine has not yet been paid and
the president of the Standard Oil
Company is reported to have said
that Judge Lands would be dead
many years before it would be paid.
*+*
Representative Thomas M. Bell,
OF Georgia, Democratic "whip" OF
the House, advocates the nomina-
ton of former Senator and Repre-
sentative Charles A. Towne for the
Presidency by the Democratic ma
tlonal convention, and he desires
that Georgia send an uninstructed
delegation to the Denver couven-
ton. Mr.. Bell declares that Mr..
Iowne can carry as many votes in
the West as Mr.. Bryan. if nominat-
ed, and could carry votes in the
East which Mr.. Bryan could not.
"As constructive statesman and
orator." he says, "Mr. Towne has
no superiors and few equals. He
would make a campaign that would
go down in history as one of the
most aggressive and brilliant in the
political annals of our country"
x4*
When the Presidents message to
Congress, last week, was read in
the House the declaration that the
time had come for a revision of the
tariff elected hand -clapping on the
part of Democratic members, and
Democratic approval, also, was CIV
en-, by way of pounding desks, to