The Washington herald., 1909-06-08
Animated Debate.

The Senate. before adjournment. had an
experience meeting. in which there was
an animated debate Of the questions
Who IS a Republican," and Why is a
Democrat? Not much progress was
made with the tariff bill after the at
tempt was begun 10 settle those two
problems Of politics.
Senator William Alden Smith. Of NIichi-
gan. repudiated the Repubucanisn OF
Secretary OF the Treasury MacVeagh and
Secretary OF War Dickinson. and Sena-
TOT Aldrlch had q hot controversy with
Senator Beveridge as 20 whether Mr..
Beveridge was a Republican OF a Dem
ocrat
In this discussion Mr.. Aldrich was
earnest. much more so than usual. He
intimated that By recent close associa-
ton with the Democratic Senators. the
young member from Indiana had forgotten
his Republicanisn. Mr.. AIdrich laid down
the preamble that the pending tarin bin
was a party measure. and II IL proved a
bad thing for the Republican party, Mr..
Beveridse and his Republican associates
would have 70 bear their share OF the
responsibility.
AT one time when Mr.. Beveridge de-
clared that a vote on the bin could be
had AT once II Nh Altrlch made GER
tain concessions 10 the low-tariff men.
Air. Aldrich retOrted that he was glad TO
ind out at last who the leader OF the
opposition was. The trouble about the
combination Of the Democrats and MI
nority Republicans was, be said, that the
Democrats furnished al the privates and
the insurgents all the brigadiers.
One OF the interesting developments OF
the discussion was the accusation Of AIr.
Aldrich that Mr.. Beverage and the dis
satisfied Republicans were seeking 20 or
ganize a new party. Senator Cummins.
OF Iowa. who had arisen 10 his feet. sat
down when Air Aldrich had suggested
that the leader OF the Democratlc-in-
surgent-RepUblican combination show
himself Mr. Cummins later intimated
that the Republican party might be de-
feated the pending tariff bill was
enacted.
Toward the end OF the afternoon ses-
sion there was a sharp controversy be-
tween Senators Bailey. OF Texas. and
stone, OF Missouri. both Democrats. over
the question whether q member Of Con
gress IS bound by the platform adopted
at the national convention. Mr.. Stone
made n long argument tending 10 show
that the Republican members OF the Sen
ate were not living Up 10 a pledge OF
downward revision Of the tariff made by
the Republican convention at Chicago last
year
Mr.. Bailey. who entered the Senate
chamber after the conclusion Of Sen
ator Stones speech, thought he was
criticising the members OF the Demo-
cratic party who voted for a duty on
lumber in direct opposition 10 the last
Democratic platform. which declared IN
favor of placing lumber on the free list
Afr. Bailey said he did not think party
platforms should contain details OF leg
islaton, but should only announce party
principles He added that he did not con-
slider the action OF party platforms as
binding upon legislators
Mr.. stone said he was a member OF
the committee which framed the last
Democratic national platform and
thought e unwtse 20 insert IN that plat
form details OF legislation. but. he add
cd. he was overruled and a declaration
in favor OF free lumber went into the
Democratic platform He took the view
that members OF Congress are bound
absolutely by the declarations contained
in party platforms.