Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-09-13
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 tariff session of 1909 the Star
had frequent occasion to criticize the
Democratic minority in congress for
its lack of earnestness in working for
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 sin
cere in promoting progressive meas
ures.
The good record began last winter
when the Democratic leaders Of the
house called caucus Of members
elect to agree on 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 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 it was able to
get down to business at 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 sin
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 was sin
cere effort to remedy glaring evils.
Each one of them was blocked-most
mistakenly and most unfortunately
by the president
In the case of the cotton bill a
group Of reactionary Democrats-fo
there is reactionary Democratic fac
ton in both house and senate-by
what they considered smart" trick,
disrupted the progressive alliance in
the senate. But with the wool bill
and the farmers free list bill the
Democrats showed themselves emil
nently practical and sincere.
The situation was difficult. The
house was Democratic, the senate Re-
publican. The only hope for tariff
legislation lay in progressive ALI
Ance in the senate. But there were
vital differences between the progress
sive Democrats and the progressive
Republicans as to the principles on
which revision should proceed. The
only thing they agreed on was that
duties were too high.
It would have been easy for small
politicians to insist uncompromisingly
on having their way, when they knew
they could not get 1t. The session
might readily have degenerated into
an attempt on the part of the house
Democrats to put the Republicans in
hole" by putting up bills to the SEN
ate and standing pat.
That they did not do this, that they
were ready to compromise SO that re-
lief legislation could be enacted.
showed capacity Of high order and
greatly increased popular confidence
In Democratic leadership.
The campaign publicity bill. bill
with claws and teeth, is another
achievement that must be set down
to the credit of congress one branch
Of which Is controlled by Democrats.
1t is simple truth to say that the
record Of the special session has enor-
mously strengthened the confidence Of
Independent voters in the capacity Of
the Democratic party as represented
IN congress.
On the strength of this record with
strong presidential candidate the
party would make powerful appeal
to the nation next year.-Kansas City
Star.