The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-08-30
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 30, 1911.
THEY PLAYED POLITICS.

The adjournment of the special SEES.
zion of congress Is welcomed by bust.
ness interests in all parts OF the coun.
try. The menace Of legislation that
contemplated radical changes in exist
ing conditions - proposed changes
whose effect ever their advocates were
unable to determine-caused a feeling
of uncertainty in business circles that
discouraged development in various
branches of industry.
During its special session OF nearly
Eve months congress has accomplish.
ed very little that promises to be OF
permanent benefit to the American PEG.
pie. Most Of the time was spent in
playing politics-and it was q poorly
played game at that. The passage OF
the Canadian reciprocity bill, cam.
paign publicity legislation, statehood
for New. Mexico and Arizona, the pas.
sage Of the congressional re. apportion.
ment bill and q few minor measures,
form the next legislative result Of the
extra session.
Tariff revision measures, framed
with q view to making them campaign
Issues, were responsible for delay in
adjournment. Several bills propos.
ing changes in existing tariff schedules
we're discussed at length and secured
majority votes in both house and sen.
ate, but the presidential veto prevent
ed them from becoming law. The
reason assigned for this action by the
president-that the measures were pre-.
pared without regard to their effect
upon government revenues or the IN.
dustries concerned-will not be chal.
lenged by any fair-minded person who
is familiar with the proceedings.
1t is questionable whether the demo-
cratic majority played q shrewd game
Of politics by taking advantage OF
the special session to make tariff re.
vision the issue of the next campaign.
They have exposed their hand eighteen
months in advance Of the presidential
election, and the voters will have
plenty of time in which to consider the
program to which a democratic con.
gress has affixed its Endorsement.
.Postpouement OF the agitation until
the regular session three months hence
might have given the democratic poll
ticiaus a better start In the campaign.
A review Of the work OF the special
session by Representative Mann de-
cues the position of his republican
associates, andimskes criticism Of the
political opposition to this effect:
1.-THE democrats OF the house would
have been wise II theylhad confined the
special session to the consideration Of
the reciprocity lbill. Instead OF that
they Get out to show how they could
bungle legislation. They prevented
the passage of the constitutional
amendment for direct election OF sena'
tori by insisting on coupling with II
another amendment to the constitution
to deprive the general government Of
one of it's necessary powers.
"They fought against publicity o
primary election expenses until We
strangled them into yielding. They
nearly defeated statehood for Arizon'
by insisting that congress give practi
cal approval to the recall OF judges
They prepared tariff bills withou
knowledge either of.form or substance
They brought in tariff bills with
plain avowal that they never knew O
cared what the effect might be on tn
industries OF the country and plante
themselves squarely on the platforr
against protection and in favor Of
tariff for revenue only without know
ing what the effect on the revenu
would be. They have declared l
favor of larger importations fro'
abroad regardless OF whether we hav
idle factories and idle:men who migl
produce similar goods"