Manchester Democrat., 1911-04-26
SPECIAL WASHINGTON coRREs.
PoNpENcE.
By Clyde H. Tavenner.


By Clyde H. Tavenner.
On the day the present Congress
was called to order the writer hap
pened to be seated beside H. B.
Martin, secretary OF the American
Antitrust league. Just after Speak
er Champ Clark had concluded his !
now famous opening address, Mr. !
Martin turned to me and said. l
"There is deeper meaning to
this occasion than most Of the spect-
ators are aware. am not speaking
from portisan viewpoint. What
allude to is that this is the first in
forty years the first time since the
trust problem has been acute in this
country, that there is real, out
and out anti trust majority in the
House Of Representatives.
Mr.. Martin was well qualified to
give an estimate Of the body of men
before him. For fourteen years he
had labored among the old members
of congress-, and well knew how each
of them stood on the trust question
then he had closely examined the
record Of the new members of the
House, and had interviews with
them. That the anti trust league
secretary was right in saying that
the new House had majority of
men free from domination by spec
ial privilege has been demonstrated
by the character of legislation al
ready passed.
| House It's Own Master.
| The fact that majority of the
members stand fer the passage of
the reciprocity measure and the far
mer free list bill is the best evidence
that the House is no longer con-
trolled by the tariff trusts.
Lumber, for instance, would not go
on the free list If Big Business was
stu in control. Heretofore the lum-
Der interest the same interests and
individuals that are alleged to have
elected and retained Lorimer in the
a Senate have been able to prevent
8 lumber from going on the free list.
| The fact that wire fanceing and
= other steel manufactures. are placed
n upon the free list, and that sweep.
4 ing investigation will soon be under
s the Stanley resolution in positive as
a surance that the steel barons are
8 no longer able to dictate the kind Of
y legislation that the House shall o.
d shall not enact.
It is evident that the implement
combine has lost its grip on the
e House, because agricultural implem
ie ents, including plows, harrows, reap
e ers, binders and mowers, appear OF
le the farmers free list.
r Nor is the beef trust still in com
1t mand. If 1t was dressed meat
le would continue to be taxed, instea
r Of going on the free list, as tn
to Democratic program provides. Z
le1 Trusts Not In Saddle Now.
I'd In the past the lumber trust
r steel trust. implement trust and bee
Of trust have had easy sailing. The
n have contributed generously to N
OF publican campaign funds, in retur
e. for which they have demanded an
ID received at the hands of the repul
ne licans sufficient protection to Civ
II them monoplies on American ma
e. kets and to enable them to cole,
from consumers in excessive price
IT. not only the amount Of their can
he paign contributions. but handson
gs profits in addition thereto.
en- Men will always pay thousands |
en- politicians or to party funds in IL
es hope OF getting back millions. Tari
he for revenue not only tends to pr
or vent monoplies and the consequel
fartificial prices, but cuts off a lea
De ing cause of political dishonesty ar
ms corruption.
M Sherman ls Wise Old Owl.
ne Vice president Sherman makes 8
10 ideal presiding officer of the sena'
'r from the viewpoint of the Old Guar
He knows how to sidetrack pr
= gressive legislation, and his heart
ne in the work.
IN An instance: When the resoluttt
II providing for the direct election
Il senators, passed in the House by
oh vote of 296 to 16, was presented
~ the Senate 1t was Immediately +
~ ferred by vice-Pr sident Sherman
en- the committee ion privileges al
Dy elections.
This is the committee that whit
washed Lorimer, and as constitut,
~ at present is dominated absolute
by Tory senators.
Inasmuch as the resolution in Il
~ last Congress was referred to al
acted upon by the judiciary comm
'ai tee, the senate was amazed at She
mans action. Culberson of Tex
ee moved reconsideration of the a
ton and the resolution will proba
~ ly be turned over to the judicia
ne committee after all. The incident
impressive. however, as revea,il
~ how determined opponents of pc
L. ular government are to defeat II
81 will of the people. Jugglery Of
Nv character similar to Sherman's
being used in the secret conferenc
=. of reactionaries in a determined {
~ fort to pack all the senate comm
tees against progressive Legislation
Patronage Problem Solved.
Step by step, the committee !