The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-06-11

houses OF congress correctly repre-
sent their constituents by their
votes, then the democracy of the
country is swallowed up in the re-
publican ranks of protection.
And yet, they want the game
without the name. They argue
against protection as a general prin-
ciple and revile it in glowing and
beautiful language, and then-take
all the protection they can lay
hands on and call for more. Sena-
tor Simmons of North Carolina
wanted the exhorbitant duty of 81
thousand on rough lumber, while
all Aldrich was willing to concede
was 81 so. Some republicans didn't
want any. Half the democrats in
the senate and all the leading ones
voted for duty on iron ore in di-
rect opposition to their national
platform. Some of them voted
with the committee on the sugar
schedule. Tillman of South Caro-
lima is asking for a duty on tea,
even because his state is now rails
ing tea. Quite large crops of the
best brand of teas are nov being
raised in that state, the product is
already a very considerable one and
bids fair to develop into large pro-
poItions. Therefore, as South Car
DINA begins to produce tea and de-
velop other industries it will neces-
fsarily come into the protectionist
camp. 1t must or it cannot do
business.
For the same reason the senators
from Louisiana voted with the
committee to maintain the present
rates on sugar-because that state
raises sugar. Some southern SEN
atOrs voted with the committee to
raise the duty on lemons-because
the Gulf states can raise lemons
and are already beginning to do so
quite extensively. Senator Bacon
of Georgia wants a revenue duty"
of 20 cents ad valolum on cotton,
raw. Mind you, he doesn't want it
as asprotective duty, but only for
revenue" that's all! OF course he
don't want it to protect Georgia
raw cotton, but because such a
duty would raise about $4,000, 900
revenue! See? The Finance COM
mfttee will not consent to the i'm
position Of this duty, and Senator
Bacon promises to fight to secure
its insertion in the bill. Here we
have the amazing spectacle of
democrat asking for and sting
on a stiff duty which even chair
man Aldrich cannot allow! The
Florida senators are now wailing
for a heavy duty on pineapples, so
much, in fact, that the committee
will likely refuse it in the interests
of the remainder of the country.
But it indicates a topsy-turvy con-
dition of things in the tariff world,
sure.
Hence we have the spectacle of a
few republicans who represent
states which do not produce any
thing but grain and beef steers try
ing to tear down the duties on
everything that everybody else
raises. They have very little which
needs protection, but that little is
protected to the hilt. They don't
seem to care what happens to the
industries of the remainder country,
and they are the real and only 81
mon pure tariff-for-revenue-only
relicts. A majority of the demo-
Gratis usually vote with them to re-
duce duties, but this is only from
force OF. habit, the ruling passion
strong in death. 1T IS very doubt
full if many of the democrats would
so vote if they knew they would
win. They know that the regular
republicans will certainly have a
majority over all, and so they con-
tinue to vote for the shell and |
ghost of anti-protection.
Last Wednesday night the ma
ority inaugurated night sessions.
Ordinarily this indicates that ses-
sion is drawing very near its close.
Conditions here are so unusual that
one hardly dares apply any wet
weather sign, but we have reason
20 believe that we are now on the
ZONE stretch. The senate now
meets at 1920 in the morning,
axes a recess from $50 to s and
inally adjourns for the day not
alter than IL p. m. This makes
trenuous days work oft. During
he eleven hours of continuous ses-
ion all the senators are compelled
o remain within hearing distance
f the bell calls. If any Of them
re down stairs at lunch in the cafe,
he bell may pull them tout at any
Everything is instantly
ropped, and a dozen senators are
cen hustling up the elevator and
! on the floor of the senate to
nswer to their names while their '
louths are yet working on sections
steak or pie.
1t is not conceivable that such a
ondition can long continue. The
snators cannot and will not allow
/. Neither their health or their |
will stand it. Night I
sssions must have the effect of
,rcing the bill to a speedy concur {
on. Any further attempt at fiji '
ustering or preventing action will {