Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-17
It Is Fun to Watch Ia
riff Debate in Senate.
westerners Begin a Series Of
Group Work in Speeches.
Talk for Revision Downward, Be.
Ing Solid for Cut In Rates.

Washington, d. c., May lb.-tSpe-
caD. --There has been group work in
the tugs of war over the tariff bill in
the Senate 1t is something rather new
in that quarter. When President
Charles w. Eliot of Harvard was at a
banquet here some weeks ago he said
the progress of that university had
been due very largely in forty years
to group work. The remark, much
commented upon here at the time.
may or may not have had something
to do with the tactics of debate in the
Senate. Senator Cummins of Iowa vas
one Of those who advised it.
Last week the Republican progress
sives of the Senate started a group
of orators to work. 1t was well under
stood that they had d program of
speaking mapped out which would con-
sumo considerable part of a week.
Several senators were to strike blows
for revision downward which, it was
calculated. no one senator was strong
enough to strike alone and single
handed Senator Borah Of Idaho
Whanged away on the income tax
amendments, Senator Dolliver of Iowa
delivered in two installments, covering
as many days, q terrific attack upon
the cotton and wooden schedules, flood
ing the Senate with elegant and elo-
quent phrases. and filling the hearts of
many Republican senators with hatred
for his personal assaults upon the Re-
publican leaders. Then came Senator
Cummins of Iowa with sedge hammer
blows for the steel and iron schedules.
Others helped in the trick, but it sue
ceeded in it's main pIrpose-to impress
upon the country the earnestness of
the Western progressives, who are din
ming it into evcrybodys ear that they
want duties lowered. 1t might be men,
toned in passing that they are saying
precious little about the duties they
want retained or raised Whether the
speeches Of these low tariff senators
marks the high water point of their
battling is yet undetermined. All of
them are promising other speeches.
They have been encouraged by their
success in getting the attention of the
country with their initial tariff ef-
forts They propose to follow up what
ever advantage they have gained and
when the time comes to press amend
mcnts along the line of their speeches.
The indications are that all or nearly
ali their amendments will be voted
down. The margin. however. is none
too wide and the leaders, although con-
tident of success. viii feel easier when
the tests between their own followers
and the alliance of Democrats and
these progressive Western Republicans
are over.
But the old Senate leaders which in
cludes the ruling spirits of tn" finance
committee. replied to these progressive
attacks in kind. They did not adver-
tise their tactics, as had the progress
sives. The plan unfoIded only as the
attack progressed. 1t did not require
several days for cXecution-only one
Senate afternoon. They chose an OPP
perfume Saturday when every
body was expecting IA vote and when
it would he opportune to obtain Il good
showing in the Sunday morning pa
pers.
1t was something magnificent to see
the precision and force with which
these Senate elders moved out for ac-
ton. They wanted to correct the i'm
preston. disseminated widely. that the
tariff hail been made in q corner. that
adequate time for consideration had
not been given. because of the haste
to enact the law and enable business
to resume. ard. in short to prove that
the revision had been honest and sin
Ccrc with due thoughtfulness not for
manufacturers and consumers.
Senator Aldrich. the captain of the
tariff forces. led OIL. During the stress
ful tariff discussion Mr.. Aldrich has
been an interesting STUDY He does not
like to Engage in debate. Although :
fairly good spcaici. AZ that term il
undcrst BOD h. has neither tie mo-
mcn.um nor the eloqurnce of TIL" ora
tor. Ills voice rings clearly and when
he speaks the Senate is all attention
There is no rush for the clolkrooms
and the corridors. He had PASSED tho
WORD to Senator Tom" Carter, the
smooth one of Montana. to be ready t.
open tn" moment he (AldrichD had con
cmded. Indeed Senator Carter had
been given little time to prepare his
wares for display-namely the dozens
of big volumes Of information about
the various phases of the revision now
in hand.
Senator Carter has long chin whis-
kcrs which. makes him look more
like q farmer than lie is. No one was
ever known IL attempt to work the
shell game nron him. He is one OF
the speakers of great precision in the
Senate. His sentences are always
grammatical and he uses the right
word to lit the case. Unctious as a
book agent. he told the Senate all
nix wiz tc
covers of the tariff books the House
and the Senate had had printed since
early last December. 1t was interest
irg to hear him. for Senator Carter is
almost invariably an interesting speak
err
Senator Hale of Maine was the next