Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-03-07

Many Prominent in Congress
Life During Past Years Now
in Private Life

BY RALPH SMITH.
WASHINGTON, March 6.-The death Of
the 6lst congress Saturday at noon mark
ed the beginning OF a new era in Amer
lean politics. For 16 years the Republic
can party has been in complete control
of the legislative machinery of both
houses OF congress. For Il years IL has
had the presidency. and the executive
has been in perfect harmony with the
congress. The next two years Of Presi-
dent Tafts term. however. will find one
branch OF the government-the house of
representatives-in opposition to the ad-
ministration. and a Republican senate
hot entirely In accord with the presi-
dent. Just as Grover Cleveland had a
Republican house and Democratic sem
ate. Mr.. Taft will have a Democratic
house and Republican senate.
In political annals the 61st congress
viii live i'm memory chiefly because the
despotic powers OF the speaker were curb
ed by a demand from the people which
found voice in coalition of Democrats
and progressive Republicans. popularity
called insurgents. This combination up
set Speaker Cannon's splendid political
machine, which came to him as a legacy
from Reed. Crisp and Carlisle. The
friends Of, reform call the change a re-
turn Of the government to the people.
litical treason, admitting that IL has rev.
olufionized national legislation.
THE REPUBLICAN TARIFF.
The 6lst congress viii also be remem-
bered largely for the enactment of a
tariff law that Is now condemned alike
by Democrats and Republicans. Even
Republican president has found portions
OF the Payne bill indefensible. It was
the popular revolt against this tariff act
#r,ne 81 81 80
of both the house and senate.
In both houses OF the 61st congress
the master minds OF the dominant party
have been swept from power. Senator
Nelson W. Aldrich. of Rhode Island who
bosed the senate with an iron hand for
many. many years, was forced to retire
10 private life. and quit the halls OF con-
gress several weeks before his term &C
tually expired. His retirement was ne
cessitated to save his little state 20 the
Republican party. The same desperate
expedient occasioned the retirement of
Senator Hale. of Maine. but in this case
the expedient failed-and Maine went
Democratic for the first time in years.
As the 61st congress developed the po-
litical condition which retired the veter-
ans who stood by the old time Republi-
can policy of protection. Il also gave
birth to a new set of leaders in our ma
Bristow. Borah. These men have at last
come into their own. They will have to
be reckoned with by the Republican par
" in the future, and their policies will
have TO become part and parcel of the
Republican doctrine. Otherwise a new
line up is Inevitable.
The doings of the dead congress have
been of deep political moment The SYM
pathies OF the individuals Of both parties
have become public property.
DEMOCRATIC DIFFERENCES.
The 61st congress has served also to
develop important differences in the Dem
ocratic party, and especially is this true
or the senate. While the Republican
dissentions are far more pronounced, the
Democrats have shown several diverging
views on the tariff. There are many
so-called protective Democrats" men
who entertain a high regard for a stiff
revenue duty" Bailey Of Texas, typf-
fies this classification, in part, though ne
is vociferous In his arguments for a tar
IF along genuine Democratic lines.
IT is these differences within the ranks
OF the two great parties that develops
the questions: What is a Democrat
and what is a Republican," The retir-
ing congress has left the question un-
decided in some respects, and no effort
viii here be made to answer either
question. The national conventions of
the paties in 1912 will have to settle
the matter.
President Taft undoubtedly finds the
present situation vexatious He had
leaned toward both sides of the Re
publican party in the past two years.
He has denounced. mildly, the Payne
law, and he has defended IT. He has
blown hot and cold with alarming ir-
regularity. His recent actions indicate
that he is not very much enamored of
the Payne law, and his Canadian re-
ciprocity agreement is far from pleas
ing 10 the wing of the Republican party
that denounces the Payne tariff.
The Republicans are in a bad way
There is little time now for a recon-
ciIiation. and the members Of the rival
factions are damning each other with
pleasing regularity-to a Democrat
The Republicans who retire from office
are cursing their successful foes-the
insurgents. and the insurgents. in turn,
are accusing the stand-pat Republicans
Of wrecking the party and bringing
about Democratic victory through their
obstinacy-their standpatism.
1t may require time to heal up the
wounds in the Republican party, and
meanwhile the Democrats will be
weighed IN the measure. The effect or
Democratic legislation on the business
conditions, the-pocketbook and the APP
petite of the wage-earner may settle
the question quickly, and bring the Re-
publican party back to power Then
again 1T may perpetuate itself in con-
troll for a long period.
TAFT WANTS HARMONY.
President Taft is anxious for harmony
in his party The insurgents wing