Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-05-19

ty." but further than that they are
not willing to 60.
II we are ever to have q genuine
tariff revision, it must be made by
friends Of the common people in
stead Of by friends Of the tariff.
And it won't be done by either
the republican or the democrats,
but by combination Of the genu-
inc revisionists in both parties.
The present attempt at revision has
proven conclusively that the donkey
can see the oats in the manager as
we'll as the elephant can, and by
throwing a handful Of oats into the
manager for certain democratic SEN
ators and representatives to enter
his barn, get tied and branded as
the property Of the IT. & T. (tar-
if and trust) ranch. Yes, sir,
when the final vote is taken on the
Aldrich bill you will need a con-
gressional directory to tell whether
the people voting for it are demo-
Gratis or republicans.
But if no party can be relied up
on to revise the tariff honestly. how
can it be done? It is simple
enough, and will be done when the
people determine that they want it.
In every district where the present
incumbent has bowed to the AL
drich- Cannon measure there must
be put up against him a man OPEN
~ pledged to a genuine revision.
Then the people can take their
choice. The voters Of the Second
Minnesota district have done this
twice in succession, defeating one
of the strongest standpatters on the
republican side in the strongest re-
publican district in the state.
What has been the result? Why,
you couldn't find a standpatter in
the Minnesota delegation today if
you needed one the worst way.
The republican congressman from
Minnesota can be relied Oh in every
emergency in this matter, for if
one of them should waver the least
bit. you will only have to say, RE
member McCleary." and the waver
will cease If the other states
where a sentiment for tariff revi-
sion exists would apply the axe la
Second Minnesota there would soon
be a sentiment for genuine revision
in congress that would cause AL
drich and Cannon to climb the near
est tree and stay there till the
fracas was over.
You may have a lingering idea
picked up from some schoolboy de-
clamation that statesmen are guided
by love for right and justice. That
is undoubtedly true in some instan-
ces; but after lifelong study of
the genus politician (which said
genus in congress bears the ratio of
100 to y l have come to the conclu-
sion that they are related to the
mule in one very important parti-
cular-it may be possible that some
extraordinary mule once in while
will pull a heavy load because he
likes to do it. but it is a safe bet
that most mules pull because the
driver has CAD to urge them on
with. Just as soon as the congress-
men find out that the people have
CAD and are ready to use it on &C.
casion, just SO soon will the afore-
said congressman get down to bust
ness, strain the names and tugs in
stead of the breeching, and pull in
the direction the driver wants them
to go. For genuine love of country
and devotion to the cause Of the
people, commend me to the politi-
clan who is ''scared out of his
boots" Given a horde of such pol
iticians, with one genuine states
man to guide them, and the people
can get anything they want. But
as long as the people are so devoted
to party names that they dare not
use the whip, just so long will the
politicians talk one way during q
campaign and vote the contrary
way in congress.
This may be cynical, but little
reflection will convince you that it
is true. A politician generally
acts from fear. Now he is afraid
of the party boss or the house and
senate rulers, and the only way you
can help him over that scare is to
gave him a worse one from your
side Of the fence.
I said there are exceptions to this
rule Of politicians working under
the CAD. Minnesota is fortunate
enough to have at least one who
acts from conviction. Congressman
Iindberg has consistently and at
all times opposed the Cannon re-
gime without taking into consi-
deration what Cannon could do to
him. Davis Of the Third district
has also displayed considerable in
dependence and deserves praise
for his independence. Lindberg
and Davis will not be able to do
much as long as the other republic
cans bow to Cannon and the system
he represents, but If some other
districts send Representatives of the