Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-05-05
LA TOILETTE SOUNDS
NOTE OF WARNING
IN IMPRISONED SPEECH TELLS
WESTERN SENATORS TO DE-
FENp SHERMAN LAW.
DECLARES REPUBLICAN PARTY
MUST CUT LOOSE FROM EVIL
INFLUENCES.
cUMMINs AMENDMENT TO RAIL
ROAD BILL DEFEATED BY
VOTE OF IS TO 20.

Washington, April Boy vote OF
S5 TO 20 and in the midst OF intense
excitement, the administration re-
publicans yesterday defeated the
Cummins substitute for the Crawford
Elkins traffic agreement provision OF
the railroad bill This waa one OF the
most important subdivisions of the
bill. The vote generally is accepted
as test of the strength of the con-
tending sides respectively, and 1t Is
believed that it presages the passage,
OF the bill by a safe majority.
Or total membership of 81, TWEEN
ty-eight senators did not vote, and OF
these four are absent without being
paired. All were democrats. All OF
the eighteen democrats present voted
for the Cummins provision, SO that il
the democrats absent and impaired
had voted for the amendment of the
bill the vote would have been thirty
three, still less by two than the vote
against the provision.
The eleven republicans who voted
for the Cummins substitute were Bev-
eridge, Borah, Bristow, Burkett, Ciapp,
Cummins, Dixon, Dolliyer, Gamble,
La Toilette, Nelson.
The Cummins provision was offered
as a substitute for an amendment in
troduced by Mr.. Crawford, which was
favored by the administration sena-
tors. The insurgents and democrats
cOntended that the purpose Of the
Crawford provision was to take the
railroads out from under the Sher-
antitrust law. 1t would permit traffic
agreements TO be made with the APP
proval of the commerce commission
but would not require that each rate,
commission in advance of it's going
into effect.
This is required by the Cummins
substitute. Mr.. Cummins, after the
defeat of his provision yesterday,
gave notice of another amendment
intended to accomplish his purpose.
The Iowa senator also seeks to insert
proviso, declaring that no increase
or change in classification shall take
effect until it shall have received the
approval of the commission.
A general understanding is that
voting will be resumed today and it
is expected that all amendments, in
Guiding that of Mr.. Cummins, will be
Hnfnn ND 10 he Cysoxx fN,,l
provision will be adopted. Before the
vote yesterday Mr.. La Toilette came
in with a one hour speech.
Mr.. La Follette's speech was a plea
against the annulment of the Sher-
man law as applicable to- railroads
without supplying adequate protec-
ton in it's absence. In many respects
1t was remarkable speech and was
delivered under somewhat trying cir
cunlstances. The senate, as well as
Us presiding officer, evidently wanted
to vote, and while most senators. re-
tanned their seats there was a mani
fest Impotence, at least among the
advocates of the bill Mr.. Frye pre-
sided
Declaring that the standard in the
senate had declined since 1890, when
the antitrust law was enacted, and
asserting that law to be, next to the
constitution, the principal bulwark of
the liberties of the people, Mr.. La
Toilette warned his colleagues, anc
especially the western senators,
against being the first to impair the
law.
We are come upon time when
the country has an administration
which is ready to stand for legisla.
ton, which never before could have
been attempted with any prospect OF
success. and today we must vote"
shouted La Toilette with tremendous
earnestness, whether we will make
the first breach in this statute. under
the behest of those who have been at
lacking it for years.
Iaking UP the republican platform,
Mr.. La Foilett asserted that party
platforms frequently came nearer rep
resenting the views of interested par
ties than those of the people at large.
and that in reality the senate com.
mittee's recommendation did not 90
incide with the party declarations.
Rising to his t:ptoes and stretching
an arm towards the republican side
ne proceeded to present his viou, -.