The Washington herald., 1908-03-25
John Sharp Williams Chides
the Republican Party.
WILL AID IN FILIBUSTER
Minority Leader Backs Representa-
tive suizer In Saying that No More
WIZ Unanimous Consent BE
Given In the House for Coa-
sideration of Certain Business.

ment Of the do-nothing policy and the
adoption OF the r.Inciple Of legislative
rush by the Republican majority. as the
result of an understanding with the ad-
minIstrstion. the Democratic minority de-
clares its intention OF getting busy forth
with.
II is an interesting game Of double
edged politics, with a prize for the side
that turns the most tricks.
Literally nothing has been doing in Con-
gress UP 10 this time. II was tacitly un-
derstood that nothing much was worth
while. anyway. and that the fighting lines
Of the parties were to be laid outside the
record Of legislation
The Democrats have been content thus
far TO fill in unlimited time by speeches
on the floor, devoted principally to at
tacks on the President and eulogies Of
Bryan, pastime In which the waiting
majority INDUCED them with smiles.
Now parliamentary discipline is to.be in
vogue Public business is to be pleaded
by the side IN power. and the other side
IS to harass the eager lawmakers BY pro-
hibiung processes in order 10 direct the
attention Of the country The Democrats
are to block efforts Of Republicans here
after with the avOWed object OF proving
that the Republicans mean TO do nothing
and that the Democrats want things done
and are going to have them done
Has KnuckIed Under.
In the last few days announcement has
been made that the WHY administration
had knocked under to the leaders OF the
/ House and Senate and thpt a combine
had been effected TO put through legfs-
lative programme that would reflect some
credit and not little glory on the party
charged with the responsibility Of Iegis-
latiye achievements. and thus make a
| fresh record for the coming campaign.
Incidentally II was intended 20 show
that the Roosevelt policies were practical
/ policies. and the stirring Presidential rec
concentrations we're not for Congressional
/ pigeonholes and current comment. but
/ for speedy enactment into law. Labor
WAS 10 be concniated, capital eoneiliated.
/ and everybody made happy and satisfied
/ before Congress adjourned and some can
ddate nominated for President who was
/ worthy 20 have the White House mantle
cover him
/ Al this juncture comes forward John
Sharp Williams. the minority leader with
/ the announcement that the patience OF
/ the minority Is exhausted. II will have
no more idieness. II will clog all the
wheels until the Republican majority
/ declares its intention 20 do what the
country demands Of H.
/ Mr.. Sulzer. Of New York. started fill
clustering in a AZ OF piQue because re-
marks he had not made on the floor and
which he had printed In the Record were
expunged on a party vote Mr.. Sulzer
wore a smile OF triumph, along with &
red flower in his buttonhOle. yesterday.
when MIR. Williams laid down a policy OF
obstruction for his Democratic colleagues.
and declared in high glee that the Demo
cratic leader was following his nlustri-
Gus example
Declares for Roosevelt.
Mr. Williams declared for President
Roosevelt's do-something policy. which he
/ professed not to believe the majority OF
the House was taking in good faith or
I giving ear 20. Until he was assured that
there was going TO be legislation all along
the line. there would be no more business
by unanimous consent. and the path Of
the powers in the House was going 10 be
/ rough.
Mr. Williams would fasten the mind
OF the country on Congress by his
methods, and would teach Il that IL could
not triie with the will OF the people.
/ He and his colleagues would wage relert-
( less war from now until the majority
I capitulated by the introduction Of various
/ bills long talked about
II Is called a pretty political ruse BY
Mr. Williams. and the gift Of leadership
I OF the genial Mississippian is more ad-
mlred than ever. In chuckling humor his
/ followers say he has put It on Speaker
Cannon and the rest. since IL no legisla-
/ tiOn is enacted il will be clear that The
/ Democrats fought bravely fer il. and IL
| legislation is enacted, why then the Demo
Gratis forced il.
In throwing down the gauntlet. while
( he had the ear OF the House. this is
/ briefly what Mr.. Williams said.
Il have waited Ike a Democratic lamb
ready for the slaughter-waiting for the
| Republican party 10 do something.
| have finally come 10 the conclusion that
the Republican party has forgotten how
I 10 do anything: il has become the partv
of negation, Of passivity
1T is plain now that without some
method of parliamentary coercion. YOU
are going 10 be deaf 10 every demand OF
I the country. Now. the minority can not
/ exercise much power. but II has some.
and ! want tc make the announcement
( now that from this moment on 10 the
/ balance OF this session this is not gong
20 he a lie-easy-wa cam
! paign. and that the little poWer the
minority has. IS going to be exercised.
The minority has the right TO refuse
unanimous consent 70 legislation. II has
the right 10 call for the yeas and nays
upon every affirmative matter OF legisla-
tion.
No More Requests.
Il now make the announcement that
no requests for unanimous consent from
that side Of the aisle will be granted
during the balance of the session. until
the majority shows that it is alive 10
the demand Of the country. and gives as
surance that it viii report for considera-
ton the following bills:
'l'irst-An employers liability Bill.
'second-Publicity OF campaign con
tributions
''Third-The WAYS and Means Commit
tee must, in response 10 tho overwhelming
demand OF the entire newspaper and mag
azine fraternity Of this country. Repub-
! lican as well as Democratic. bring 10 the
consideration of this House bin for
| free wood pulp and free print paper.
'FOurth-The Clayton bin, now pending
before the Judiciary Committee. or some
other bill embodyirg like provisions What
the Clayton bill docs is this: IL prevents
mere ex parte and temporary injunctions.
where only one side has been heard. from
acting as a supersedeas Of law passed
by a sovereign State.
Bring in bill in the name or the chair
man OF the committee! bring In = bin in the
name OF a Republican, and ] would be
glad to see you do II. for I am never
better satisfied thar at the unusual spec