West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-04-02
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Republican Leaders Dlckerins 0Yer
Legislation.
SOMETHING TO SaYk THE PARTY
Measures Demanded by pemocrats-su.
preme Court Decision in Rau-
road Cases.
SOMETHING TO SAYk THE PARTY
From on ReruIar correspondcn,.

From oar Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., March ,t.-
The Republican leaders are dicker-
ing with President Roosevelt over
what legislation this congress must
enact to save the Republican party
from defeat and probable disinte-
grafton. The President was at first
inclined TO build a fire In the rear of
Republican congressman to force
them to do something that would
stay the growing discomfort of the
vas; majority OF the people, espe-
cially organized labor. The Presi-
dent approved the standpat attitude
OF Congress on the tariff because il
would split the party wide open il the
subject were discussed, but he feels
that to enter upon the election with
d"-nothing policy on every reform
demanded would surely invite defeat.
The Republican congressional
leaders, especially Speaker Cannon,
ate not willing to concede anything
To the labor people except the em-
ploycrs' liability bill, which Senator
Knox has revis, d so as 20 evade the
objection OF the supreme court To
the bill passed by the last congress.
he President wants the Sherman
antitrust law amended 10 allow cor.
porations 10 legally combine as
trusts and then as crumb To labor,
TO provide that "no,hing in said act
Is Intended to interfere with or
to restrict any right of employees to
strike for any cause or to combine
or to contract with each other OF
with employers"
This qnolation is from the bill
lnsi introduced in the house of rep
resentatives as agreed upon between
President Roosevelt and the civic
federation. But it will be noticed
there is not a word IN the bill allow.
ing labor TO boycott, which is what
the labor leaders are demanding.
So labor will hardly be satisfied with
a b u giving them the right to com
bine and To strike, which rights are
unsssaiisblc ia law or morals.
AS the labor leaders are much ex
aspersted with tie Republican lead.
ers on account OF Il e re fusal to con
cede their DEMANDS there IL no doubt
that Ihere Will be agreat effort made
by organized labor ;u defeat those
Republican candidates at the com
ing election who are not friendly.
Hon. John Sharp Williams, the
Democratic leader, has notified the
Republican leaders that unless they
report an employers liability LiIl,
campaign publicity bill, the anti
injunction bill, and bills removing
the tariff duty on wood pulp and
print paper the Democrats will feel
compelled TO object to requests for
unanimous consent and will demand
roll call at every opportunity and
comI el the Republicans to keep a
quorum on hand to do business dur.
ing the remainder of the session.
The Democrats consider that the do
nothing policy has gone far enough,
and intend, as far as they are able,
to compel the Republicans to bring
to a vote such legislation as the
people are demanding.
There IS nothing new in the Re-
publican factional fight for Presi
dent. The probabilities are that the
Roosevelt-Taft forces will not have
majority Of the convention on the
first ballot unless they secure con.
troll Of the national committee and
seat the Taft contesting delegates
from the southern states. That
there will be prolonged fight in
the committee over each contested
delegation seems unavoidable, and
and whatever decision is arrived at
will create heartbnrnipgs that will
have an effect upon the result of the
electi Jn in those doubtful states
where the negro vote counts.
A grea furor has been kicked up
here by tie decision of the su.
preme court ia the Minnesota and
North Carolina railroad cases. Va
rious views are expressed. Some
think that the decision will allow
the railroads to nov charge call the
traffic will bear" Others believe
that state rights and state control of
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