Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-02-28
RARE SCENE IN HOUSE
DEMOCRATIC APPLAUSE FOR A
REPUBLICAN, PRESIDENT.
Political Pencil-Polnis What Is Hearst
Planning? Speaker Cannons Tribulation
He Stands SGuarely on the OLD Time Plat


form.
ttsOu uur special CorrcsponIcnt)
WA>nINGTuN. Feb. y. 1898.
Enthusiasm characterized the dis
cu>Si"n of President Roosevelt : re-
cent message ON the floor Of the
li"usc Of Representatives this week
amt At 10 time was the applause
greater than when Representative
Hepburn. ri Iowa, delivered strong
tu.o&y Uf the President From the
Democratic side came enthusiastic
commentator and seldom was such
d tribute spoken rs by Representative
Bourkc Cochran. During the course
of his speech lie took occasion to say
some nice things about Mr. Bryan.
winch evoked Suchapplausc from the
Democrats that it WAS quite a while
before he could proceed. :" If Mr..
Bryan represents the determination
to prosecute malcfactors for their
crimes, and if Ii rigorous enforcement
of the law should result in congeSt-
ing the criminal courts" said Mr.
Cochran, then the plunderers of
millions will be given precedence in
the pathway to prison, over the pill
fcrcrs of pennies.
Later in the week, the Democratic
leader, Mr.. Williams, made a speech
on the message along lines previously
indicated to him by MIR. Bryan. He
declared that railroad rate legislation
originated with the Democrats; said
that the Democrats must take issue
with the President on his recOmmcn-
dation that the railroads be granted
the power to pool, and with the Pres
ident'S argument that it was useless
to attempt to punish the men, the
flesh, the beings" who violated the
law in the name of corporate author
ity. He further insisted that the
Democrats could not agree with the
President on the proposition to COM
pei all corporations doing an inter-
state business to take out a Federal
license. Commenting on the commits
siOns in the message, Mr.. Williams
emphasized the lack of definite tariff
revision recommendations, saying,
with the reception of q little in
sig nificant utterance about putting
works of art, wood pulp and paper on
the free list, he has never raised his
vice against the very poison that
lies at the heart of your entire sys-
tenn"
There is no little anxiety in Demo-
cratic circles in Washington over the
reports which have reached here from
the West to the effect that William
r. Hearst is perfecting an organiza-
tiOn and purposes to hold q Hearst
League convention, probably in In
indianapolis. between the Republican
and Democratic national conventions.
1t is asserted that Mr. Hearst has
secured the service of Charles A.
Walsh, former Secretary of the Dem
Ocratic National Committee, and
that Mr.. Walsh has employed a num-
Der of able lieutenants who are assist
ing him in the work of organizing the
Hearst party. No definite infOrma-
ton can be secured as to the purpose
of the Hearst movement. Does Mr..
Hearst expect to form a third party
and nominate himself for the Presi-
dency? Does he expect to develop q
strength which will enable him to die
tate terms to the Democratic party?
Will his movement detract seriously
from the Democratic vote? These and
a host of other questions are be-
ing asked by anxious Democrats who
connot fathom the purposes of the
great editor-politician. 1t had been
supposed that because of his extern
sive newspaper properties, Hearst
would not dare to oppose Mr.. Bryan
and that may be the case, but his
present purpose is the occasion of the
utmost curiosity and anxiety.
Senator Stone of Missouri has been
making an earnest effort to organize
the Democrats in the Senate so that
they might present an effective re-
Sistence to the Aldrich financial bill,
but he has been checkmated by the
persistent opposition of Senators Bal
ley and Teller and there is every
prospect that the minority will have
to content itself with Offering few
amendments which might improve
the measure. seeing them voted down
by the Republicans and then permit
ting the bill to pass the Senate. Nor
is it likely that any effective opposi-
ton can be presented in the House.
There are doubtless a majority of the
members of the House who are op-
posed to the bill, but the Speaker is
for it and he rules the lower chamber.
MIR. Cannon is himself banker and
a millionaire and he regards the Aid
rich bill as eminently satisfactory.
If its opponents in the Republican
ranks threaten to show their indie
pendence there will be a caucus and
every Republican will be feOrcd
into the line under the scOurge of
the party whip.
Speaker Cannon is much worried
these days because of the fact there
are certain magazine writer's who
have been sent to Washington to
scrutinize his political record with
view to ascertaining whether he
is a fit man to be elected President.
1t is whispered about in the cloak
rooms and Hobbies of the Capitol that
there are some pages in the political
life of the Speaker which would not
look well in print and some of Mr..
Cannon's closest friends say that the
cold haggard looks he has worn re-
Gently are due to the fact that he
has been told that the muck-rak-
ers" are close on the trail of certain
pages Of the record he would be ex-
tremely sorry to see in print. How
ever that is all political gossip.
Mr.. Common has assured the dele
cation of the National Manufacture
ers' Association that there will no
tariff commission created this year.
OF course the speaker is the stand
pat" candidate of the Republicans,
but it is regarded as safe predic-
ton that should either Mr.. Bryan or
Mr.. Taft be elected, the President
would call special session for tariff
revision early in April 1909.
A Slow Poke.
Said the young lady: Il hear
fhprn'c q b,10na,. ~ larcra