The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-31
Defy All Predictions by
Maintaining Organization
and Standing Together.
TARIFF BUT ONE
POINT OF ATTACK
Back of Schedules Is Deep-Seated
Movement Against Aldrich-
Hale Control.
By ]. C. wELLIvER.


The general star OF senatorial insur-
gency has made deep impression by
reason Of its conduct of the fight on the
tariff bill Somebody has been able to
hold this insurgent band together. and
10 maintain generally amiable relations
OF cooperation with the Democrats, for
long period, and under circumstances
which mark the achievement as quite
without parallel and precedent in the
history of senatorial organization.
They'll go TO pieces inside OF three
days" was the prediction of the sena-
torisl regulars when the insurgent Re
publieans, at the beginning Of the tariff
bills discussion. showed disposition to
stick together. Nobody had ever sue
ceeded in organizing such movement
and disciplining It we'll enough to make
It hold together for effective results.
In the rate bill fight. indeed, the ad-
vocates Of the administration bill held
together and forced the regulars at
last TO come to them But in that
case the insurgents had a majority
TO begin with. and they had the deter
mined backing Of the Roosevelt ad-
ministration, then at the climax of pop
ularity and power. The Democrats.
for the purposes of the fight.
Lack Advantages.
In the tariff struggle all these advant-
ages have been lacking. The insurgents
have been forced TO face the fact that
they could not always rely either on
their own solidarity. or on Democratic
support. Some of the insurgents have
been forced, on account Of home inter-
ests. at times TO desert the movement,
while the Democrats have gone to
pieces at times for like reasons. But
on the whole the insurgents have done
unprecedented team work. and instead
Of losing their grip they have perfected
and increased the efficiency Of their
organization as the fight has pro-
gressed. Moreover the entente between
them and the Democrats, as TO funda-
mental principles, has developed into a
pretty definite understanding The
Democrats include al shades Of opinion
about the tariff. but when the whole
aggiomeration of conflicting opinions is
boiled down and crystallized the Dem
ocrats have turned out just pretty
good, sane tariff reformers. They talk
about tariff for revenue as their ideal,
but they have worked generally for
about the same sort of sane, practical
reformation Of the schedules that the
insurgent Republicans have insisted
was their purpose.
II is a remarkable group OF men, this
which is generally referred TO as the in
surgent force. Their insurgency rep
resents the protest Of the middle West
against the present domination OF the
Senate and also gainst the tendencies
of the tariff measure which IS under
consideration. II would be most I'M
satisfactory and limited view OF the
contest which would lead 10 the con-
clusion that these LEen are merely fight
ing against the schedules Of the present
measure. Back of all that, they are
fighting against the Aldrich-Hale con-
troll of the upper chamber; against the
present method Of distributing COM
mittee positions and power; against the
ultra-conservative attitude of the old
leadership on all questions affecting the
Government relations to railroads and
corporations in general These men rep
resent the section OF the country where
the movement for primary designation
OF Senators has made its greatest
progress and won its most distinguished
fought their long and hard battles be-
fore the people and against the special
interests. to get where they are now.
Leaders of Movement.
The group of tried and tested in
surgents who have managed 70 hold
together most OF the time throughout
this contest includes La Toilette Of Wis
consin. Nelson and Clapp OF Minnesota,
Beverage OF Indiana, Cummins and
Dolliver OF Iowa, Brown and Burkett
of Nebraska, Bristow OF Kansas. and
Crawford Of South Dakota With them
have stood, as often as they could.
Bourne Of oregon. and Borah OF Idaho.
Gamble OF South Dakota has on a num-
Der Of occasions voted with the in
surgents. but he has not been reliable
his conservative tendencies lead him
much Of the time 10 line up with the
Sid organiza ton BOrah and Bourne
have been irked because Of the re-
etrsinfs imposed on them by the local
have been with the insurgents MANY
more times but for these. johnson Of
North Dakota came here under con-
dition5 which marked him as a prob
able rebel: but he has been regular on
almost all the. tests. though Indeed he
did desert Aldrich on the sugar vote
The sentiment OF the state would war
rant expectation that both Johnson and
AdcCumber should have Joined the re-
McCumber was placated
with q place on the FianCe Committee. /
and II is common report that the dis
tinction, bought at the price OF init /
mate association with the elder man 1
ayers. IL liable 10 cost MeCumber a /
hard Aght II not his reelection TO the /
How these men stand IN the States 1
which they represent IS indicated BY /
stters they are receiving Senator Dol /
liver got one the other day from an 4
Iowa constituent who chided him vlgor- /
lusly for joining the Democrats on the /
ariff question. Il hadn't expected any !
hing else from Senator Cummins," said /
he writer, fbut we didn't expect YOU /
% desert the tariff policy Of the Repub- |
team party.
That's the only letter OF its kind I 4
nave received" said Senator Dolliver.
on the other hand, 1 have had letters /
literally BY the thousand. from all over /
-. So