The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1911-05-10
And Other Progressive
Legislation
PASSED BY THE DEMOCRATS
In the House, Opposed by Re-
publicanS, Headed by
Vice President.
TAFT AGAINST PROGREsSIvEs

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Washington, May S.-That reac-
tionary Republicans in the Senate
are lying in wait for the farmers
free list bill and other progressive
legislation passed by the Democrat
ic House. is becoming more evident
every day. The motive is two-fold,
to protect the profits of the tariff
trusts, and to prevent, if possible,
the Democrats from carrying out
promises made to the people.
The group of Senate Tories is
still able to exert a tremendous in
fuence upon legislation. Hav-
ing packed the important commit
tees with men who take the corpor-
alton viewpoint of the particular
legislation to come before those
committees, the reactionaries are in
position to continue serving spec
ial privilege by obstructing and per-
haps preventing the passage of
measures desired by the people.
Among those whom the public
may safely rely upon to oppose most
of the progressive House measures,
are Ballinger, Smoot, Lorimer, Gug-
genheim, Stephenson, Lodge, Oliver,
Warren, Perkins and a dozen others,
who will at all times have the hearty
cooperation of Vice President
Sherman.
Back of this group of reactionar-
les are arrayed the tariff trusts,
the railroads, Wall street, Standard
Oil and the balance of the organic
ed wealth of the country.
The Democrats and progressive
Republicans are pitted against this
The two forces will,
when necessary, combine to prevent
the passage of a bad bill, but they
will be helpless at times to prevent
the Tories from obstructing the pas
sage of Democratic legislation such |
as the free list bill.
About the only thing the average |
citizen can do is to keep tab on the |
votes of his individual representa-
tive in both House and Senate, not
Ing particularly whether they vote |
for or against legislation desired by
the people, and when election time
rolls around, to act accordingly.
Taft AntagOnizes Progressives.
President Taft took the leading
part in the fight against giving the
Republicans of the Sen
ate the committee places they de-
which fight resulted in
leaving all the big Senate commit
tees the same citadels of special
privilege that they were in the pre-
Gious Congress.
Before the Republican caucus
was held, the regular Republicans
Of the Senate signed an agreement
by which they agreed to give the
a one-fourth represen-
-aNlOu Ou ali OendlOT
Penrose, who signed the agreement
Tor the regulars, is said to have
bitterly arraigned his regular col
leagues for putting him in position
Of breaking his political word, which
he declared he had always especial
y prided himself upon keeping in
violate.
1t now develops that Penrose's
breach of faith with progressives
was forced by White House pres
sure. President Taft considers
like La Toilette his per-
'onal enemies. and he does not want
hem in a position to assist in bring
ng about the passage of legisla-
ion like the farmers free list bill.
which they could do by combining
with the Democrats If given the rep
'esentation on the big committees
o which their numerical strength
entities them.