The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-06-28
CONTINUED From Page One,


surgent Republicans, was under way.
In spite of the repeated victories of
the Finance Committee, the ways of
tariff legislation are very hard. Many
oldsters in Senate and House are shak-
ing their heads and recalling their pre-
dictions that new bill could not be
made without jarring the very founda-
tons of the Republican party. To be
sure the Democrats are not in any
particularly enviable light with refer
ence to revision, but the country al
ways places responsibility on the party
in power and the Republicans have to
bear the brunt Of the tariff criticism.
The income tax provision has been
most troublesome of all. 1t has yet to
be voted upon in some form. The sub
stitute provision for an excise tax upon
the dividends or the earnings of cor
porations is just now in favor once
more because President Taft has
brought it to the front again. But
there were some Senators, who have
rendezvoused with the Macedonian
phalanx on other matters and who will
feel compelled to break away on the
income tax. That has caused the lead
ers vast amount of worry, SO that
they have been on the point of appeal
ing to President Taft to send for Sen
.ators and ask them to desist.
The President IS 10th to enter upon
such course, which is contrary to the
policy he laid down for his own guild
ance when the extra session of Con-
gress convened. He may have to yield
before the last word is said on the
tariff bill. If the plight of his party
in the Senate becomes such as to war
rant it, the leaders could with good
grace insist that he help them to carry
through the provision which he had
himself favored originally.
The stress and strain of the situation
is becoming politically very wearisome
Good party men will be glad when the
bill has been passed and the extra ses-
sion of Congress adjourned. Nothing
in the way of legislation so arouses
the country as tariff bill and, at best,
the enactment of new tariff displeases
great number of people.
If Western progressivism is destined
to win or even to have decisive lntiu-
ence in Republican councils, there will
be big trial of title to leadership one
of these days. Signs appear that such
trial is approaching in the Senate,
where the tariff debate is dragging its
weary way along. The outcome OF
the trial may determine the selection
of a President before considerable
number of years have rolled around.
The towering figures among the Sen
ate progressives are young men. Cum
minis of Iowa, who has rapidly been
forcing some recognition of his leader
ship, is the oldest-59. Deliver is 81
Bristow, As; Beveridge, Al; Borah, A,
and La Toilette, 81. All, however, are
old in political experience and in polit-
zeal campaigning, as the very fact of
their presence in the Senate demon
strates to degree.
Senator Aldrich, more in derision
than by way of compliment, addressed
Senator Beveridge, of Indiana, the other
day as the leader of the Republican
insurgent forces. The Westerners re-
fuse to accept him in that role, al
though his readiness in debate and his
ten wears of service, in which he is the
senior of all insurgents, give him add
tional standing in their fractional
deliberations. Thus far they have had
no real leader. but out Of their numer-
Gus plans which have been brought for
ward more frequently during the extra
session than ever before, they are real
izing their entity as group and the
necessity for closer organization.
/ Senator La Toilette, of Wisconsin,
who spoke with some pride IN retort
during recent debate because Repup'