The National tribune., 1909-06-17
INSURGENT LEADERSHIP.
A Big Trial of Strength at Hand as
to the Title.

If Western progresSiveism is destined
to win or even to have decisive influence
in Republican councils, there will be big
trial of title to leadership one of these
DAYS. Signs appear that such a trial is
approaching in the Senate, where the
tariff debate is dragging its weary way
along The outcome of the trial may de-
iermine the selection of President be-
fore a considerable number of years have
rolled around.
The towering figures among the Senate
progressiyes are young men. Cumnlills L
of Iowa, who has rapidly been forcing
some recognition of his !eade9snlp, tHe
oIdest-59; Dolliver is 81; Brlstow, 4S ;
Beyeridge, Al; Borah, A, and La Fol-
lette,l "a All, however, are old in po-
litical experience and in political cam
paigEing. as the very fact of their pres
ence in the Senate demonstrates to a de-
gree.
A7' Beyeridge the Senior.
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 refuse to accept
him in that role, altho his readiness in
CeDalt. anu Ills ~ NedlS Va SCiNiNS, IA
which he is the senior of all insurgents,
give him additional standing in their fac
tional deliberations. Thus far they have
had no real leader, but out of their num-
erous plans which have been brought for
ward more frequently during the extra
session than ever before, they are realiz-
ing their entity as a group and the neces-
SHY for closer organiza ton.
Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin, who
spoke with some pride in retort during
recent debate because Republican Sen
ators cooperating with him were now
in the upper legislative branch. The
mantle of the insurgent leadership has
fallen upon him to a degree, altho there
again one could hardly say that the other
insurgents are any more disposed to fol-
low him than they are to follow Senator
Beveridge.
If the elections next year in the West
result favorably for the progressives, they
may fId themselves sufficiently numerous
in the Senate to hold the balance of pow
er. They are now 10 or II. When they
are 16 or 1T-if they ever grow to that
strength-there can BE- no question about
their potency in shaping legislation. They
have gained strength and they have also
lost strength at the extra session. Brls-
tow and Crawford were recruits, taking
the seats of recognized conservatives. But
Crawford and his South Dakota colleague,
ator Cranes Macedonian phalanx, and
the progressives are whispering their fears
also about Senator Borah. At least all
three of those erstwhile progressives have
opened book accounts with the Finance
Committee, to borrow a phrase which
Senator Hale used not long ago of Sen
ator Beveridge, voting part of the time
with the committee and part of the time
against the committee.
Cummins and La FoIlete.
Senator Cummins and Senator La Fol-
1ette have asserted themselves much tow
ard establishing a Leadership over the
little band. They have hit hard and de-
liberately in debate and have persisted.
It would probably be conceded that they
stand forth as the two most prominent
Republican reformers inside the Senate.
Cummins is not so strong a debater as
Dolliver, Is not gifted with the same tor
rental eloquence, but he has qualities OF
mind that commend him to the Senate
generally; l. good mixer in the Repub-
oyerlooked-and thus far has command
ed the respect of his opponents without
arousing their animosities. Senator La
Toilette, while as forceful in his crusades
for reform legislation as any one, remains
the most cordially hat ID man ON either
count of any personal characteristics, but
because of his unrestIained language in
debate. He has voted with tie Democrats
very constantly ever since he entered the
Senate-which would alone make him
hated by the Republicans-and does not
hesitate to speak in unmeasured denun-
ciation of the Senate leaders of his own
party.
The movement which these Senators
have guided is not confined to tariff Ot
course they have given revision downward
great prominence in the Senate debates
onA nfnnh1%ize& N frempudQnSlv hpfOrp
the country. Probably they have already
vitalized it as an issue in the CongreS.
sional elections next year. But they vii
not subside when the tariff bill has been
enacted into law. They have defined ideas
about corporate and financial legislation
with which the next session of Congress
is expected to grapple. They will be full.
equipped to harass the regular ReDubli
can organization when it comes to amend
ing the Sherman antitrust law and mod
flying the currency. system after the FL
nance Commission has made report.
The House has q similar and very lively
insurgent problem and at the session next
Winter history will be repeated. Tht
dangers of an alliance between Democrats
and Westerners viii be ever before th'
Speaker. Once he is able to muster
majority for a measure, the Senate lead
ers will again be confronted by a bi-paTt,
opposition. It's effect, of course, is demon
alizing upon any political organization ant
inevitably becomes handicap in a M
tional election.
While it may be of little real signifi
cance il is none the less notable tina
Democrats in Congress have not been al
cocky for 10 years about the political out
look as they are at this very minute
They say they will cary the House mex
year, by reason of the troubles the Repub
.icans have had in revising and readjus.
ing the tariff, and. because of the big in
surgent Republican group in the Senate
they expect to be able to control the up
per Legislative branch during the last hal
of the present Taft administration. Dem
Oerats have so often won elections a yea
in advance that their representations ar
not to be taken too seriously, and We
there is a condition in the Senate whicl
warrants paying some attention to thes
Democratic assertions.
The Republican Majority.
The Republican majority is now abou
30 votes-yery close to one-third Of tn
entire Senate. But with about 10 pro
gressive Republicans who are votin
with the Democrats most of the time,
few Democratic gains next year woul
become embarrassing. The possibility O
II is all the more worrisome to the Re
publican leaders because their party ha
been in power so long now without an
reyerses that il might seem q change wa
bound to come before long.
There are Republican Senators in NJ
T.,