American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-01-21

presidency. lney 90 not want Har.
non Some of them are bold enough
to say they prefer a fighting platform
and a fighting candidate to any kind OF
a harmony program, which In its last
analysis means a surrender to Wall
street. The Progressive Democrats
are not as resourceful as the Progress
sive Republicans.
AS the interest in the last two ses-
s1ons of congress centered around the
group Of Progressive Republicans, so
1t is to be in this session.
In the past the fight was over spe-
cif1c pieces of legislation. Now they
Will 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 nullifed.
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 tn the main issue.
Tariff Commission Bill.
Representatives Lenrcot of Wiscon-
sin and Good of Iowa have been ac-
tive in pushing fer consideration of a
tariff commission bill in the house.
The demand for legislation of this
character has beer SO insistent that
those who laughed at it 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
f%erences in the cost of production, now
sees the light in favor of a 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 a commission bill. OF course, it
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 a 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 ant is results. They will accept
a 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
tho TTnitoI Cfotae rano+o a. 1-..x..-
tee on judiciary of that body is to re
port faVorabiy a resolution to elect
United States senators by popular
vote. 1t will not be the resolution of.
fered by Senator Bristow. 1t 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 It's report.
If the Democrats in the senate vote
in accordance with the convention
promises of their party upon this sub
jeCt, a resolution to amend the consti-
tuition so as to permit the popular e'ec-
tlNu VI SSudtOlS Will Dt SGUIiItJ6Q De [
fore the close of the present congress
to the adjournment of the legis
lative sessions in most of the states.
so that there will be opportunity to
it ratified by most of the states
in time for use in the senatorial cleo
two years hence. OF course there
will be some opposition upon the floor
Of the senate. 1t is believed Senate
would, if he could. flibuster
its adoption, but he is hardly
condition to bear the fight alone.
The report generating Senator Lor
from charges of corruption will
lot be permitted to slip through with
tut a full discussion of its provisions
a vote upon its merits. The com
nittee which submitted the report is
iure to receive severe criticism for
he haste with which it acted and be
it evidently went out of it's way