The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1911-09-08
PARTY HAS DONE WELL
DEMOCRATS HAVE REASON TO BE
PROUD OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Progressive Legislation to the Credit
Of the Congressional Session Just
Ended-Country May Be De-
pended Upon for Approval.

In the tar1ff session or l9U9 the Star
had frequent occasion to criticize the
Democratic minority in congress for
it's lack Of earnestness in working Tor
revision downward, and even tor
blocking such revision.
As an Independent newspaper the
Star now records its conviction that
in the session Just ending the Demo
cratic congressional organization has
shown itself alert. intelligent and sim
cere in promoting progressive meas
ures.
The good record began last winter
when the Democratic leaders of tine
house called a caucus of members
elect to agree on a program for the
next session. 1t would have been easy
to wait until the new congress should
assemble before %perfecting the Or
ganization. That would have involved
long delay in framing bills. AS a re-
suit of the grasp of the situation by
such men as Champ Clark and Oscar
Underwood, all the preliminary work
was out Of the way when the special
session convened, and 1t was able to
get down to business a. once. That
was an excellent beginning.
In passing the reciprocity bill with
out amendments the Democratic con-
gressmen resisted tempting opportuni-
ties to play politics, and worked sim
cerely for what they believed to be the
country's best interests. They might
have sought to make political capital
out Of reciprocity. That they did not
except in the broad way Of helping
the party by helping the country
went far to win them public esteem.
Three big achievements for revision
downward are put to their credit In
the wool bill, the farmers free list
bill and the cotton bill.
Each one Of these measures promis'
ed the country relief from tariff exac
tons. Each one of them vas a sin
cere effort to reme'-y glaring evils
Each one of them v } blocked-mos1
mistakenly and mos; unfortunately
by the president.
In the case Of tt cotton bill q
group of reactionary Democrats-foi
there is a reactionary Democratic fac
ton in both house and senate-by
what they considered a smart" trick
disrupted the progressive alliance II
the senate. But with the wool bill
and the farmers free list bill tn
Democrats showed themselves emf
nently practical and sincere.
The situation was difficult. TIL
house was Democratic, the senate RI
. publican. The only hope for tarii
legislation lay in a progressive all
, ance in the senate. But there wer
= vital differences between the progress
sive Democrats and the ~progressfv
[ Republicans az to the principles o
which revision should proceed. Til
A only thing they agreed on was the
duties were too high.
o 1t would have been easy for sma
3 politicians to insist uncompromisingl
on having their way, when they kne
they could not get 1t. The sessio
might readily have degenerated mi
r an attempt on the part OF the hous
Democrats to put the Republicans
q hole" by putting up bills to the Sc
ate and standing pat.
That they did not do this, that thu
il were ready to compromise SO that
lief legislation could be enacte
showed capacity Of a high order al
!" greatly increased popular confiden'
/" in Democratic leadership.
. The campaign publicity bill, a b
&c with claws and teeth. is anoth
' achievement that must be set 1ov
~ to the credit of a congress n bran
- Of which is controlled by Democra
~ 1t is simple truth to say that t
record Of the special session has en'
III mously strengthened the confidence
If Independent voters in the capacity
the Democratic party as represent
:" in congress.
81 On the strength of this record w
" a strong presidential candidate I
~ party would make a powerful app
III to the nation next year.-Kansas c
Star.