The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1909-12-08
A GOOD CHANCE FOR DEMOCRACY

4
Sixty first congress convened on Mon I.
day. Uncle Joe" Cannon was in the
chair and the insurgents" were. we
suppose on the floor. There ought to
tie some lively bouts between the
speaker and the republicans who have
got OF the reservation. and there
should be good sport for democrats
and good opportunities. too. for them
TO promote a disturbance from which
they should derive some political ad-
vantage. The opposition to Cannon
ism is real issue before the country.
and the democrats. as the recognized
opposition party, should make the
most Of it. II they are not very care
ful of their interests the insurgent
republicans will bring about reforms
In the situation before the democrats
get into action. and all the credit will
attach TO the party which il i'm and
hopes to continue in power The trou-
bic with the democratic representation
in the house is that it has 5een sinh
serVient and submissive to the speak
er, thankful for any small favors he
may throw the way of individual dem
ocratic members and the opposition
they have shown to the speaker rule
mas been perfunctory and insincere.
and therefore, quite ineffective. There
mas been a good deal Of outward ex-
preston of dissatisfaction with the
ways of Speaker Cannon by the dem
/ ocratic leaders, but the speaker has
generally known of a working number
among the democrats whom he could
count upon on occasions The time is
nearly at hand when the mower of
Speaker Cannon will be broken, and.
unless the democrats lbestir them
selves effectively in the house the re-
publican insurgents will reap all the
credit for the achievement and will
ultimately. OF course, add il to the
assets of the republican organization,
holding themselves. after all to be but
a scouting party from the main and
regular force. 1t will be particularly
interesting to observe the course of
the democrats in congress, as to what
advantage they take of the opportun-
tiles offering to them.
There should be a good many other
interesting features of the session be
gun Monday. What is congress 60
ing To do with the reform program
the president is expected to lay be-
fore it? II depends, Of course, upon
what sort of program is submitted
Maybe the president win not propose
very much, after all, that is he may
not propose much in the expectation
of having it brought about, being con.
tent with putting himself upon the |
record. In that event there will be |
no opportunity for Judging the rela,
tons between the white house and |
the congress, always a matter of NOV
ing interest from the political point
Of view. At the special session of
the Sixty first congress. held last
spring and summer. the president ac-
cepted the tariff dose that Aldricn
and Cannon concocted for him and
thus far the administration has no
record of progressive legislation to
its credit. Maybe it will not attempt |
any.
On the whole II is probable that the |
congress will do as little as il can in |
q material way. The republicans are !
badly split up and they stand good |
chance of losing the next house OF |
representatives. They want to get |
through this session with as little ex-
position as possible-we are speaking !
now of the regular republicans-and !
they would like very much to keep the |
business down to the big appropria-
tion bill. including perhaps, the open
ing of some rich pork" barrel.