The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-05-06

many of the present ills OF govern
ment with tariff excuses. They still
disclaim, of course, that the tariff is
the mother of trusts. but evidences
have multiplied during the tariff de-
iberations in the House that the Re
publicans do not want to have to
maintain that hereafter upon the
stump. Their constituents viii not be-
lieve them. And unless the tariff bill
is fairly popular. many Republicans
in public life fear that the dissatis-
faction Herewith will aggravate CON
stituencies with reference to the trust
and corporation issues which are so
very acute in the West.
The Eastern Republicans are less
| mindful Of these conditions. Public
| sentiment is not quite so much on edge
| in their constituencies. There are
fewer evidences of Dmocratie tenden-
cies this side of the Allegheny Noun
tains. Taft had enormous majorities
in nearly all of these Eastern States,
| and they are less likely to go back
on the party two years from now or
four years from now.
However, there is general caution
| among the Republicans in Congress
this year about the tariff. They are
aware that they are handling dyna-
mite, and out of abundant caution
they want to be careful about ex-
ploding it. Speaker Cannon has felt
that way about ii and Senator Aldrich
has been especially careful about pro
yoking the voters by excessive rates
| on articles of common consumption.
During tariff interval the Senate
Las been treated to the very unusual
sight of g tlghting Bob La Toilette in
| charge of an important bill on the floor.
Ye gods! A brief year or two ago that
would have made the old leaders fairly
shudder. They were shying bricks at
him then, ostraeizing him in the CLOAK
| rooms, saying sarcastic things about
him in the cloakrooms and elsewhere
behind his back
But :" Fighting Bob piloted the
| Census Bill through the Senate very
successfully. He demonstrated that he
| is no tyro in perfecting legislation He
nents. ready to give as well as to take
in the exchanges that attended that fit
| full debate The old leaders from the
East linked it up with him some but
il was all in good humor and all in all
the little affair Of the Census Bin prop
| ably has brought the euteast Wisconsin
Republiean-an outcast because he has
been a pioneer in fighting for progress
sive Republican ideas-iato closer CON
| tact with the Senate leaders. when
means that their associations are likely
| to be more friendly hereafter.
| The Senate has never lost sight of
!, the fact that Mr. La Toilette has ire
/ mendous following in the country. es-
peciallv in the western country. And
/ the Senate IS tremendously considerate
/ in the long run for man who has a
powerful following. If Senator La Fol
I lette had not defied and houted the
/ older Senators. had he not antagonized
them vigorously in public debate and
gone into some of their States and pub
I licly denounced them. be would have
been taken care Of long ago. He would
/ have been welcomed into the inner cir
/ cles. But Mr.. La Toilette is a fighting
man and he has chosen To sandbag
! Senators into recognition Of him 1t
can hardly be said vet that ne has
complete recognition but he is close
j 10 it.
! As a matter If fac fiie so-eaIled oil
/ garehy Of the Senate mas been strength
ening itself mighfiir If late bur it has
been streng henlng itself by making
i concessions. Some Rec',s ago ii 'stook
| in lot Of the Yves erH Senators, who
had been kicking beeausa they were left
ont in the cold and given no good places
at committee tables Vow with the
| tariff bin the leaders, who are Senafer.
Hale and Aldrieh. have made another
! Shrewd move 10 disarm criticism. This
Is with reference Ia the tariff bill
Big fights were looming ahead over the
duties on coal on hides. on lumber. and
on OIL
| ss0h. the Senate Finance Commute t
viii give the trusts the best of it.