The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-08-12

lHoSe WHO nave IOllOWeQ the proceed
ings in the house and senate, can 10
cate them without difficulty. They
have no conviction. They voted
against the bill because they believ-
ed such action would enhance their
chances for reelection and they
would have voted for it with equal
alacrity if they had believed the re-
verse had been the case.
They shouted defiance at the lead
ers for the benefit of their constitu-
ency, and they whispered apologies
to the leaders for the benefit of
themselves.
This class of lawmakers are the
pane CT legislation, and they are just
as numerous in the ranks of the
regulars as among the insurgents
and there are as many in the demo-
cratic fold, as there are in the re-
publican.
Both branches of congress are full
OF men, who talk one way in the
cloak room, and vote another way
Oh the floor of the house. The cry
ing need of the land, is men who
have as much nerve on the floor
OF the house. as they have in the
| cloak room. ''Cloak room courage"
never wins any battles for the peo-
pie. If legislator does not possess
voting courage he is of no value to
constituency.
| TAWNEY'S NERVE.
Speaking OF nerve and courage,
hats off all along the line to James
A. Tawney. He has been called
Blacksmith Jim," Barley Jim," en-
jun Jim,' but he has fairly won a
new sobriquet, that of Merry jim"
for his action and vote on this meas
ure was one of the most magnifi-
cent exhibitions of nerve ever mani
tested in the halls of legislation.
He held the fate of the bill in the
house, in the hollow OF his hand
Had he thrown the weight of his
ability, prestige and popularity agains
it, it would have been hopelessly de-
feated. After giving the matter care
full consideration, he came to the
conclusion that it was best for the
party, and best for the country for
it to pass; so in the face of con-
trary action of every other member
OF the Minnesota delegation, in the
teeth of practically unanimous oppo-
sition in his home district, he voted
for it, and cast his influence in fav-
Or of its passage, and more than
any other one man, was responsible
for the victory of the conference re-
port in the house.
| There is no question but Mr. Taw-
ney earnestly believes that the prac-
tical operation of the tariff bill will
be such that there will be reaction
in it's favor in the public mind that
will entirely sweep away the predju-
dice now existing against it. That
the sober second thought Of republi-
cans will sustain the action of those
who supported the bill. If he is cor
rect in this view, Mr.. Tawney will be
the biggest man in Minnesota, in
congress and one of the biggest in
the country; ii he is wrong, after
the next election he will probably be
practicing law in Winona or some
otherwhere. Anyhow, he has the
courage of his convictions; there
was no hesitation, equivocation or
double dealing. He possesses the
| voting courage" which is mighty
scarce in Washington, and, again |
say, right or wrong, hats off to Jim
Tawney, the nerviest man in Wash
ington."
POLITICAL EFFECT IN MINNIE
| sofa.
Since | have been on earth four
general tariff bills have passed the
house of representatives. The Mills
bill-this never became a law-the
Mckinley bill, the GormanWilson
bill, and the Dingley bill and the
Payne-Aldrich bill None of these
were popular at the time of their
passage The Mills bill put the dem
ocratic party in congress. The NC
Kinley bill did the same thing for
the Republican party, although it af-
terwards made it's author presi-
dent.
The German Wilson bill sent DEM
ocracy to the tall uncut and the
Dingley bill made hard shedding for
the Republicans the first election af-
ter its passage, but at present the
opposition to the pending measure
is much more intense than against
any of the others I have mentioned,
especially among republicans and if
all election were to be held now, the
shores of the political sea, would be
thickly strewn with the wrecks cast
up by the storm it has provoked.
THE ppnpEp TuJNC To no