The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-01-21
PEOPLE BACK
OF INSURGENTS.
Not a Mere Revolt Against
House Rules.
THE PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE,
Roosevelt, Cummins, La Toilette and
Their Like Are but Signs of a Popu-
lar Awakenins-Ther Destiny Either
to Control the Republican orsaniza-
ton or Form a New Party.

lar AWakenIng-ih heir Destiny Either
to Control the Republican orsaniza-
ton or Form a New Party.
Washington, Jan. 15.-There are all
sorts of guesses these days about what
the insurgent movement means, how
far it will go or what is President
Taft's attitude concerning it. Like
wise are there political prophets tell
ing what is to come. If the prophecies
agreed one with another they would be
more convincing, but not half so in
teresting. One prognosticator says
that the insurgent ruction will be set
tied the moment that Uncle Joe Can
non con to efface himself. An
other opines that the whole row is
only an attempt of certain members to
get even with Cannon and Aldrich
| for real or fancied grievances and will
disappear the moment these grouchy
ones are placated. A third wise one
AYERS that Taft is for the regulars,
while a fourth is sure the president
secretly favors the progressives.
Where Does Taft Stand7
While theorizing is the pastfme of
the hour, perhaps my own guess may
prove as good as any. do not profess
to know just what causes the insur-
gent movement or when 1t will or will
not disappear, but l have a suspicion
that its causes are deeper than these
political wiseacres have named. AS to
the presidents attitude concerning it
! cannot say for certain. not being a
mind reader. | cannot subscribe to
the view now frequently expressed in
Washington that Mr.. Taft is facing
both ways and trying to make each
side think he Is its friend | have
been watching the president for some
months and have not entirely made up
my mind concerning him. | find 9th
ers in the same state of suspended
judgment Perhaps the president has
not made up his mind about himself
or If he has is not talking about It.
And possibly the charge that he Is two
faced comes from his good nature and
his attempt to please everybody. The
only definite conclusions / have reach
ed about Mr.. Taft Is that he has so
much the judicial habit of mind that
he is regardful of the form of things
and perhaps does not go enough into
their substance. In other words, he
does not get down to fundamentals.
He lacks the Lincolnian or even the
Rooseveltian faculty of grasping the
nub of a situation. For this very rea-
son he perhaps has failed to see what
In back of the insurgent movement.
What 10 tho Revoltf
What Is back of 1t? What does 1t
mean? Is it merely a protest against
certain persons or certain forms Of
parliamentary procedure? Does not
the mere assumption that such is the
act belittle it? All the insurgents say
that their constituents are with them,
and others who have not denounced |
what they call Cannonism are being
forced to do so by the people at home. |
What is the force moving the people? |
They do not come in contact with the |
house rules or with Cannon and AL |
drich. Their reason for insurgency |
could not be so superficial or trivial
hNAN lhhoA bS 1Ol4iO lllOlC
cause to stir the voters. Is it the tar
if: La Toilette. Cummins. Murdoch
and others were insurging before this
tariff bill was passed. If we are look
ing for the truth of this thing, must
we not look deeper?
An Awakened Conscience.
Those who seek to explain Roose-
welt, Hughes. Fort in New Jersey,
Pinchot, Garfield, the dozen progress
ives in the senate and thirty or more
IN the house and the vast mass of pub
lie opinion behind these men ON the
mere basis of personality. legislative
rules or this or that single issue show
l lack of insight equal to that of the
line servers prior TO the outbreak of
he civil war. Those who have beheld
he cause of this upheaval as anything
personal, trivial or transitory have not
een it at ALL
Insurgents Are Effects, Not Causes.
Men do not make issues. but are
made by issues Roosevelt, Cummins.
n Toilette and all the rest were and
re not causes. but effects. And may
hey not be harbingers Of a greater
movement that is to come? Every day
he opinion is expressed I'm Washing
on that the insurgents are playing
With force that will get away from ,
hem. They are moved to revolt and ,
hrase certain grievances which cause ,
hem to revolt Others may come ,
fter who viii name more vital and I
causes. Twelve senators .
nd thirty representatives do not con- =
.itute the insurgent movement. but a r
asst and growing section Of the Amer a
an people. Now It is directed at Can n
on. When Cannon is out Of the way I,
viii be directed at something Or y
lmebody else. Where will IL endY G.
Tho knows? One thing is certain-it :.
i'll not end with the change Of a few =
Duse rules. 1t may seem bold thing
} say. but the logical conclusion is
lat it will end only in the change OF K
le majority and control Of the Re h
lblican party or the formation Of a s
Nv party. Already the insurgents n
I'D regulars are further apart than |,
n Rpuublicans and Domocfata a.. - =