The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-24
INSURGENTS FACE
BITTER FIGHT ON
THEIR POLICIES
Contest Likely TO Be Car
ried Right Into Own
Camp.
By ]. c. WELLIVER.

EtNE PIA pOoEE - EkelE 10 De lOICEu
upon the insurgent Republican Sena-
tors who have conducted the assaults
on the tariff bill during the special
session Information has reached some
of them that they are to be made the
objects of especial attacks by inhuen-
tial political powers, with the purpose
OF retiring them and administering a
severe lesson in the desirabilfty OF
regularity.
La Toilette and Beveridge are two
men against whom the powers Of con-
| servatism are especially aiming their
shafts They have been leaders in the
effort TO turn the light on the tariff
! schedules and the inspiration OF some
! of the curious things discovered therein.
Each Is facing Dig fight at nome. IN
! the coming campaign for reelection
The forces Of oid-line politics ara
! getting ready 70 80 after them. Il II
common report that the seaIWarts OF
| Wisconsin expected TO be provided with
plenty of money, both inside and out
side the State with which TO Ester
an effective fight against Ia Toilette.
/ From Indiana comes the assurance that
| Beverage is TO be punished, II pos
sible, by those elements which have
one by one retired from the front OF
affairs, and which now, out OF office
| for the time being. see the independent
young Senator occupying the dangerous
| eminence of party leadership in the
| State, and conducting himself with an
| Independence that has invited attacks
| from all the forces OF special interest.
In Minnesota.
| Minnesota presents 2 like situation.
Moses E. Clapp, who has firmly aligned
himself with the insurgent Republicans
and has been unsparing IN criticism Of
many features Of the tariff bill. is to
be retired II the opposition in his State
can muster the power and votes. There
are various reports as 10 the plans for
accomplishing this end. On one side
| il is said that new Republican can
didate viii be brought into the field.
with the backing Of the steel. railroad,
| lumber and other great influences, 10
run against Clapp for the Republican
| nomination; while beyond this Is the
possibility OF using Governor Johnson
as a Democratic candidate TO prevent
Clapp getting the Legislature Z he gets
1.-THE Republican leadership.
/ BY way OF countering these attacks
| in various quarters, the lnsurgent Re
publicans, according To report, are
likely 10 form a quiet alliance for nu-
tual protection 1t would be a most un-
usual thing 10 see group or Senators
| campaigning one anotheTs States, 10
help each other in their campaigns. In
other times and under different circum-
stances il would probably have reused
resentment and opposition and done more
harm than good. But as matters stand
today il is thought by many that such a
/ mutual E1lQ society among the mae
] pendents of the middle West would be
| likely to prove very useful Its work
| would be done openly and frankly: II
| would be announced that the purpose
| was TO help one. another: 10 bring tes-
fimony from the outside as TO the work
done by Senator seeking re-eleetion.
and to urge upon his people that he de-
served to be returned to his seat
Well Intrenched.
out IN the Middle West, these indie
pendent Republicans are just at present
IN excellent position to help each other
in such fashion, It is said Mr.. La Fol-
lette has given some demonstrations OF
the power he possesses with the masses
| Of voters in other States than his own.
/ Senator Cummins and Senator Deliver
| could give advice which could not De
| laughed or sneered out OF consideration,
because they are known and trusted by
the pTOgreSSlVes and independents all
| through the Mississippi valley
| Senator Bristow IS IN the same posi-
ton. II is not unlikely that the nest
| series of Senatorial campaigns viii dc
VeioD this unique spectacle or a group
of Senators standing together in the ef-
fort TO convince their constituents that
| their independence deserves reward
| rather than punishment
| Senator DolliVer two months ago had
prospects Of opposition at home. Today
| because of the course he has taken all
reports agree that ne viii be renominated
| and reelected without real opposition.
/ He had allied himself firmly and COR
| clusively with the most vigorous wing
of progressives, Wisconsin reports that
| tho political conditions are better for La
| Toilette than in many months while
| from Indiana come reports that with all
| the hight that VIII lie made on hinlf2dr.
| Beverage Is more likely TO win by
| 1O0OGo than to go down in defeat.
On the other side there are developing
some feuds between Senators which
are certain to give grave concern to sew
/ eral of the conservatives who must
| shortly put their political fortunes 70
/ the test. Senator Gamble of South Da-
kota has a new colle3g sue, Crawford. OF
/ the ultraprogresSive type. They have
| long been political allies at home. But
since Crawford came 10 Washington
| they have been unable to hold together
Divide Forces.
Mr.. Gamble has TO a large extent
voted With the Aldrich forces, while
his colleague has uniformly stood with
the progressive Republicans. The
question is beginning to be raised in
South Dakota whether both men can be
travelling in the same direction when
they vote 50 otter on opposite sides. The
| result is oninous mutteriHg OF discon-
tent with Mr.. Gamble.
/ Exactly the like situation exists in
Kansas. senator Curtis needs to make
/ some showing of Independence II he
/ shall be reelected; but he has voted
| with the Aldrich forces while his new
| colleague, BTistOw, has risen at the
| very beginning OF his term TO a posi-
! ton Of leadership among the radicals
/ BristOw's commission to be 4 radical
| could hardly be misread. for he made
his campaign and defeated Long on the
! pFedge that he would take such a
course.
Altogether there is prospect of some
| DEVELOPMENTS in the Senatorial politics
of the next few years. which Will hard
" lack interest for the country. The
progressives, OF radicals. or pOpulists,
| ar whatever they are variously termed.
| among the Republicans. are going 10
be forced to fight for their lives, and
they know il. They seem willing to fight.
| too They have all had a good deal OF
| experience of it, and have done we'll az
il There is threat, indeed. that by way
[ of retaliation they may find time to
| invade the conservative States OF some
of lie old-line Republicans, II need be-