Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-16

to abandon further Investigations.
Believing that If he did so, there was
danger of government land falling
into the hands of dishonest and IL
legal claimants. CLAWS appealed to
the department Of justice. He was
arbitrarily. summarily and without
a hearing, dismissed from the ser
vice.
Blind to the Last.
Blind to the last, the standpat
faction of the republican party
which is by far the biggest half OF
1t has decided to stand pat" on
these propositions:
That Aldriehism is a good thing
for the country.
That Cannonism is a good thing
for the country.
That the Payne-Aldrich tariff law
is God-send to the common people
of the United States.
That any republican member of
congress who votes against legisla-
thereby reads himself out of the
party.
Right or wrong, win, lose or draw,
the republican regulars have re-
solved on desperate attempt TO
bluff the American people on these
propositions. There is but one
thing that will make a better i'm
preston on a campaign audience
than a bluff, and that is a stupen-
dous bluff. The Cannonites and the
Aldrichites, master politicians that
they are, will play this trump card.
Political gamblers - they see a
chance that the people may not
have the courage to call their hand.
No Time TO Turn Back.
There is no time to turn back now.
The regulars have crossed the Rubi-
con. The die has been cast
Whether the American people are
vigilant, or whether they are indif-
ferent to conditions affecting the
government Of the country, is to be
demonstrated once more. There are
some who go so far as to say that
the nezf two national elections in
volye such important issues as to
make them in reality in the nature
of a crisis in the history of this re-
public. Both democratic and repub-
lican partisans may consider this
view as they will; either lightly or
with respect, as may best please
them.
None will deny, however, this
fact: That the next two elections will
be crisis in the history of one of
the two great parties of this country.
1t requires no flight OF Imagination
to foresee that the progressive wing
of the republican party. now IN the
minority. must become the majority.
Otherwise the republican party
would seem to be destined for a long
term out OF power.
Thoroughly Exposed. y
This view Is based on the fact that
the standpat element of the republi-
can element of the republican party
stands more thoroughly exposed to-
day that 1t ever did at any time In
it's history. The genuine progressive
republicans have worked side by
side with the democrats IN educat-
ing the people. The allies have made
1t as plain as day that the tariff has
been made a strictly poiiticai-com-
mercial proposition by the men in
control of the republican party. The
tariff trusts of the country spend
certain amount OF money as a cam
Daign fund contribution. or to con-
.rol local political machines, and in |
return receive the necessary protec-
ion to enable them to maintain
heir monopolies on American mar
zets. Without competition, the tar
If trusts are free to boost prices on
he consumer, and thus collect from |
he people sufficient tribute to or
set the original investment, and to
have left over a stupendous profit.
Fortunately for the consumer. and |
for the standpat re-
)ublicans, larger number of Amer
leans than ever before are educated
rs to the. real reason of excessive |
ariffs.