The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-06-29
INSURGENCY PETERS OUT.

1t has become mere matter of per
sonal antagonism and petty spite, to
gether with an over-weening desire
for self-aggrandizement. A legislator
might readily be pardoned, might even
1 be applauded, If from conscientious
s conviction he opposed some one pol
{ icy Of his party, but when the opp0
sition extends to everything which his
party proposes, the people naturally
conclude that there is an Abyssinian
in the wood-pile, and that something
/. besides a high conscientiousness is
the underlying motive.
Roosevelt favored tariff revision, but
very thoughtfully left the working out
of the problem to his successor. This
was not done in any underhand man.
ner. He. said. openly and plainly that
the old land as the insurgents would
have it. iniquitous) Dingley tariff
should be maintained during his ad.
ministration. We believe he was right
and that the country was not ripe for
revision at that time. Nevertheless
it left a serious problem to confront
his successor. The wool schedule.
which has been declared the height
of infamy, was the same then as now,
but no insurgent voice was raised
against it. The robbery (?) was al
lowed to continue without protest. But
that was before the New Light
adawned. before the senior senators
had learned their A. B. C.'s so to
speak. Il.
With the incoming Of Taft, seri-
Gus effort was made to redeem the re.
publican platform pledge for tariff re-
vision. The problem was difficult
,one. Not only must the tariff be ad-
stnsted, but q suiicient income must
isbe provided. In this great work the
republicans met with no cooperation
from the insurgents who sought to
enact q radical. almost a free trade
tarin. and to engraft upon It the in
come tax which had already been de-
clared unconstitutional by the SUI
preme court. When the republicans
got together on reasonable bill, q
bill much in advance Of the Dingley
law. bill which would provide, and
which has provided, sufficient income
without increasing the cost Of living
81 -. 4 T.
to the average citizen, the insurgents
voted with the democrats, although
they knew full well that no other bill
could be passed and that their votes
simply meant the continuation Of the
Dingley rates for an indefinite period.
Had the opposition stopped here,
however, the insurgents could have re-
tired in good order. for 1t is admit
ted by the president that the Payne
tariff law, while the best that has ever
been passed, was not the best that
could have been passed.
Opposition to the tariff bill was but
the beginning Of the insurgents at
tack upon the administration. The
president was severely criticised for
his non-interference in tariff legisla-
ton. Next he was severely criticised
because he attempted to place rail-
road rate regulation bill before Con-
gress, 30 that there might be some
definite line of action indicated and
some definite subject for discussion
and action presented.
i Again the insurgents sought by in.
tense radicalism to frame an impos-
sible bill and again they voted with
the democrats, knowing full well that
the only result of their action would
be no legislation on this important
subject. In spite of their efforts the
bill was passed and it is agreed that IL
is tremendous step in advance.
AS to the great subject of conser
walton of public resources, insurgency
lifted its head and shook it's rattles
seeking to defeat legislation by radi
calism.
In the meantime, in the House, in
surgency took the form of petty per
sonal attacks upon the Speaker whom
they did not dare to depose and fol
whom they Silly voted when give1
opportunity to stand by their so-callet
c0lors. In both houses there were evi
dences of personal malice towards th,
president, Witnessed by the differen
resolutions introduced, in which spit,
and the desire to injure were plainl!
written.
Finally the measure for Posta
Savings Bank was brought before til,
Congress. This was another thini
promised by the republican party ii
its platform and measure upol
which the president had set his min,
and heart The senate passed on,
bill, the House passed much bette