Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-01-20

these Progressives will find a way OF
speedily reaching out to the country
and enlisting the people in the fight
which must be made.
Progressive Democrats Aroused.
Progressive Democrats as well as
Progressive Republicans realize that
the great question which the people
must decide is the control of their DO
htical parties. Progressive Democrats
are not satisfied with the tendency
within their own party to harmonize
differences to the end that Governor
Harmon shall be nominated for the
presidency. They do not want Har-
mon. Some of them are bold enough
to say they prefer a fighting platform
and fighting candidate to any kind OF
harmony program, which In its last
analysis means surrender to Wall
street. The Progressive Democrats
nave not as good an organization and
are not as resourceful as the Progress
sive Republicans.
AS the interest in the last two SEES
sions of congress conferred around the
group OF Progressive Republicans, so
II Is to be in this session.
In the past the fight was over spe-
cihc pieces of legislation. Now they
VIII have to expand their program and
contest to compel their party to adopt
the principles which underlie their
legislative struggles. The great prin-
ciple which they conceive to be at
stake is that the government shall be
made to truly represent the people and
that special interests shall be driven
out OF the legislative halls and its
influence in administration nullif1ed.
OF course they will have their pro-
gram affecting the tariff, regulation of
railroads and all of the other issues.
but all of these must be made sub
servient to the main issue.
Tariff Commission Bill.
Representatives Lenroot of Wiscon-
sin and Good of Iowa have been ac-
tive In pushing for consideration of a
tariff commission bill in the house.
The demand for legislation of this
character has been SO insistent that
those who laughed at 1t when it was
proposed during the tariff debate of
1909 are now coming to see that they
must give the people a tariff commits
sion If they hope to retain their seats
In congress. President Taft, who con-
tended that the existing tariff board,
which has only specific power to adj
wise the president with relation to the
enforcement of the maximum and
minimum provisions of the present
law, was sufficient to secure the infor-
nation necessary to ascertain the diff
ferences in the cost of production, now
sees the light In favor of commission
with some real powers. From the
White House comes information that
the president told Chairman Payne the
ways and means committee must re.
port commission bill. OF course. 1t
would never do to give to Mr.. Lenroot
or Mr.. Good the credit of drafting the
bill. These men are insurgents. The
fact that National Tariff commission
association officers endorsed the Len.
root bill, it is understood, brought
them severe reprimand from the
White House. Small business? OF
course, but the way the game Is
played it is full of petty plays.
Lenroot and Good have no pride of
authorship which they desire gratified.
Neither has any other individual Pro.
gressive In the house or senate. What
they want Is results They will accept
bill bearing the name of Nicholas
Longworth, providing the bill gives
real powers to the commission to be
created by its enactment. They will
not stand for a measure from which
all OF the teeth have been drawn. no
matter who may be its author.
To Let People Elect Senators.
Things are moving mighty fast in
Washington these days. Ideas consid-
cred revolutionary less than two years
ago are now taken up with a show OF
enthusiasm by some of the leading re.
dictionaries. The effects of the cleo
tons are manifest all along the line.
For the first time In the history OF
the United States senate the commit
tee on judiciary of that body is to re-
port favorably a resolution to elect
United States senators by popular
vote. It will not be the resolution OF.
fered by Senator Bristow. It will be
one. however, which will cover the
subject. As with the tariff commits
sion bill in the house. the powers In
the senate could not stand to have
the name of a Progressive attached
to the measure. They did not dare
to longer delay its report.
II the Democrats in the senate vote
in accordance with the convention
promises OF their party upon this sub.
ject. resolution to amend the constI-
tuition SO as to permit the popular cleo
ton of senators will be submitted be-
fore the close of the present congress,
prior to the adjournment of the legis-
lative sessions in most of the states,
SO that there will be opportunity to
have 1t ratified by most of the states
in time for use in the senatorial cleo
tons two years hence. OF course there
will be some opposition upon the floor
Of the senate. 1t is believed Senator
Hepburn would, If he could. filibuster
against its adoption, but he is hardly |
In condition to bear the fight alone.