New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-27
Iron The Tribune Burcau.l


Washington. April 70
WHO ARE WORCESTERSHIRE pre-
amble to the resolution OF Senator La Fol-
lette. in which he declares that he ana
his insurgent associates are progressive
Republicans" and that there are clearly
defined differences on important legisia-
tive measures" between the two 1actohs
in the Republican party. has raised IN IN
terestng question as to how FAR these
men who so loudly proclaim their pro-
gressvencss are really entitled TO tha'
distinction and as 10 just what THESE
clearly defined differences are. This same
preamble names the ''progressives' IN the
Senate. The first name is that OF Senator
Borah. Mr.. Borah was an insistent ad-
vocate of higher duties for hides. WOOL
lead lumber and, indeed. all other Idaho
products, and so was Senator DlXoh'
whom the Wisconsin Senator also IN
cludes in his list In fact. Mr.. Borah
threatened TO vote against the bill II IL
made hides free. Senator Bourne, creator
of the Progressive League, was for high
rates Of duty on everything that his state,
Oregon, produced. Senator Works is also
named. He was not compelled TO show
interesting to know whether he favors
lower duty on lemons and other citrus
fruits Obviously it cannot be with re-
gard to the tariff that Senator La Toilette
asserts that he and his colleagues are for
progressive policies. Indeed, with regard
to Senator La Folettes own record ana
the lead schedule there are some Things
TO be explained. Perhaps II is Canadian
reciprocity that the Wisconsin Senator mas
in mind when he asserts that ne ana ms
associates are progressive. and regarding
which there are such clearly defined oil
ferences.
PROGRESSIVES AND RECIPROCITY
The Canadian reciprocity agreement pro-
vides for some lowering OF the duties OF
the Payne tariff bill, which the insurgents
have so vigorously denounced-except
where it touched the interests or their
states-and the sharp division between
progressive Republicans and all others
on this measure throws striking hgn'
on the clarity of insurgent thought. The
Senate has not yet been called upon 10
vote on the reciprocity agreement but the
House has and Senator La Toilette ana
his associates have some supine disciples
in that body Among those who voteG
against reciprocity in the House the names
of the following progressive-or should they
be called insurgent ?-Republican stand
out prominently: Joseph G.. Cannon, Irvine
L. Lenroot, John Dalzell. George w. Nor
ris, Joseph w Fordney and Andrew j.
Volstead. Lenroot. by the way, is the
chief political henchman Of La Toilette. OF
Wisconsin. Norris was the chief opponent
of Cannonism. and Volstead Is good old
rock-ribbed insurgent from Minnesota On
the other hand. among those ironclad
| stand -patters" who voted for the reel
procity agreement are to be found Victor
| Murdoch. Marlin +. Olnsted Z. H. Madi-
| son, Serene f. Payne. Henry A. Cooper
! and James r. Mann Every one knows
| how retrogressive is Victor Murdoch. f.
II Madison claims 10 be an insurgent and
| Henry A. Cooper yieds place to no one in
| loyalty to La Toilette The issues between
| the regulars and the progressives may
| be clearly defined. but nothing less than
| the peculiar vision of the Wisconsin Sen
| ator can perceive the definition.
| RECIPROCITY IN THE sENATE.-In
1
| the reciprocity agreement comes from the
| self-styled progressves. Probably no one
Of them will vote even for this slight re-
duction OF the tariff. As a large number
| Of regular Republicans will do so. that
! difference might be regarded as a clearly
defined issue between them were II not for
| the fact that such stanch stand patters"
| as Hepburn Smoot Warren, Frye, Nc
Cumber and Nelson are equally determined
to defeat it, Senator La Toilette himself
| has thus far refrained. as is his custom
from committing himself. but II is known
that he is working against the agreement
with all the might he can exert without
| coming out into the open. That reciprocity
Is progressive policy none can deny
! That the ideal of the genuine progressive
| Is broad craftsmanship opposed to mar
row devotion TO the interests Of a single
1 section Is also true, but measured by this
ideal scarcely one insurgent comes up to
! the requirements. Certainly there is moth
| ing in the record to support the Wisconsin
Senator'S assertion that the issues between
the regulars and the insurgents are clearly
defined. and very little that warrants the
application to the insurgent group Of the
adjective progressive.