Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-04-08

| per of the. Progressives has i'm.
pressed itself upon the house 1t Is
certain that if the opportunity pre-
sents itself and if Mr.. Cannon does
/ not eliminate himself from the speak
| ership and is an issue in the next
campaign there will be steps taken
| in this house that will eliminate him
| Mr. Norris, who made the motion
which precipitated the struggle that
resulted in making the rules commit
tee elective, while the pension ap-
preparation bill was pending in the
| house. made a speech which smoothed
the ruff1ed feelings of a great many
of the Organization. The bill pro-
vided for the abolishment of is pen
| sion agencies which are scattered
throughout the country. The commit
tee was sustained but 1T would not
have been except for the votes of the
| Democrats. A great many of the reg
ulars opposed the enactment of the
bill. and Mr.. Norris faeetiously called
attention to the situation.
Open Fight Over Tariff.
Following close upon the heels
of the rundown of Speaker Can
non came the election OF Eugene
| Foss from a Massachusetts district
which in 1908 gave $4,000 plurality for
the late Mr.. Lowering. To change that
vote to 5,640 plurality for candi-
date who made his campaign upon the
tariff issue was such a reversal of
form as even to jar the senate and
house Organization
1t was an indication that there is
more trouble yet in store for the Or
ganization. 1t is not to be permitted
to get away without having the tariff
issue emphasized. The Progressive
Republicans who made the tariff fight
in line with the platform pledges OF
the party are determined that this fact
shall be placed before the country in
no uncertain way. Before this ses-
sion is completed, as was indicated
early in January, they will bring the
whole question up in congress, and
the Organization in both the senate
and house is fearful as to the effect
which reopening of the tariff at this
time will produce.
Of course amendments to the rev.
enue laws can only originate in the
| house, and with the house committee
on ways and means organized as it
| is, it is not possible to secure any ac-
ton from that committee, but there
is nothing standing in the way of ac-
| ton to secure a tariff commission, and
this matter will be pushed by the Pro
gressives in the senate.
Take President at His Word.
The persistent way in which the
president, in his speeches, has pro-
claimed to the country that the AL
drich tariff law is the best piece Of
tariff legislation which has been en-
acted, has, more than any other one
fact, determined the Progressive sena-
tors to press this question. The Pro
gressives propose to take the presi-
dent at his word in regard to his desir
ing tariff board clothed with ample
authority to make the necessary inves
tigation. This proposition will be OPP
posed by Mr.. Aldrich and nearly all of
those who voted with him upon the
passage of the tariff law.
The Importance of the discussion
will not depend, however, upon the ac-
ton to be taken by the senate, but
will be gained by the certain effect
upon the political situation it is expect
ed to produce. President Taft's per-
sistent championship of the Aldrich
law is regarded by every Progressive
Republican who voted against the law
as direct effort against the progress
sive and Independent movement Thus
far the Progressives have made no eff
fort to reply to the presidents attacks.
They have been attending to their
duties as senators and have been fully
engaged in dissecting the various
measures which have been presented
by the Aldrich faction as the presi- |
dents bills. They would have con-
tinued this course probably to the end
of the session had not the president
himself brought Up the question of d
thorough investigation. The Progress
siveS agree thoroughly with his con-
illusions as to the necessity for such
an undertaking.
But they reason from entirely differ
ent premises, and as the president has
repeatedly challenged them to dispute
his praise of the Aldrich law, they will
avail themselves of the opportunity to
be presented when he asks for an in
creased appropriation for the tariff |
board, not only to offer a tariff COM
mission bill, but to voice their protests
against the law itself and the presi-
dents persistent eulogy of the law.
The Progressives believe the tariff |
law is to prove an important factor in
the coming fight between themselves
and the administration supporters.
They believe that Tafts Endorsement
of the law has made it necessary that
they should take position of open
hostility to him, and they intend to do |
this in the most effective manner, pos.
sibly before congress adjourns.
From information close to the Or.
ganization of the senate it is predicted |