The citizen., 1911-12-08
THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE
DUTY OF THE DEMOCRATS
IN CONGRESS.


The Congress Of the United States
convened on Monday. Dccenber.4th.
The Democrats have a large majority
in the House of Representatives. Their
majority has been slightly increased over
their majority in the House at the last
session.
In the Senate. the Democrats are in
the minority, but they 5havesincreased
their minority Of the last session BY sew
eraI votes. But the Democrats and In
surgent Republicans by combining can
control the Senate, as they did at the
last session on many important laws that
were passed, although the most import
tant of them were vetoed by President
Taft-such as the bills reducing the tariff
on WOODEN goods, cotton goods and the
farmers supply bills. and the people
were defraud-d OF their rights 10 the
benefit of those most just and necessary
laws.
This is one of the most important Ses-
sions Of the law making department Of
the governed that ever convened since
the formation Of the government, which
each and every member OF the TWO
Houses ought FULLY to realize in order to
measure up 10 the full discharge of his
duty to the people and to the nation
Even with the full realization OF its I'M
portance. there is danger Of a failure in
the performance Of their full duty, and
failure is certain without such a reaiza-
ton Of their important obligation.
There is in the public press, as well
as among individuals. much speculation
as TO what the President will do, and also
as 10 what Congress will do.
There can be little. if any. need for
speculation as TO what the President
will do. What he has said and he has
said 50 much, that it leaves but very little
room to speculate a. 70 what the Presi
dent will do. In addition to what he
has said, ifthathss left any doubt in the
minds Of the people, what he has done,
would seem 10 leave moi the slightest
doubt OF what the President will do,
Il IS perfectly clear that the President is
not going TO do any Of the pressing
things that the people demand shall be
done. These demands of the people
have been made in no uncertain tones or
terms. but in the clearest and most EN-
ph ltic terms and results.
Andi further they did not make these
demands until they were forced to make
them by hard necessity, the result of
conditions forced upon them. There.
fore, it is the duty Of the Democrats in
Congress, wIthou, regard to Mr.. Taft's
action or wishes 10 forward in the dis
charge Of their constitutional duty and
obligation 10 the people of the United
States. There IS but one question that
they have to ask their conscience and
that question IS as to every measure that
comes up is it right and ought it TO be
done.2
This question answered to the salts
faction Of each man's conscience makes
it easy and simple 70 do the thing that he
knows TO be right aud should be done
This is the nd Of speculation and sim
plihes the whole duty Of Congress.
The burning question before the peo.
pie Of the whole country is the reduction
of the tariff duties, and especially by The
duties on the necessarles of life, SO that
the great tariff burdens that have for SO
long oppressed The people and which
are too grievous to be borne any longer.
That is the imperative duty of this Con
gress, and it is duty that should be dis.
charged without regard to the President
or the time that it may consume or any
and all other obstacles that NAV inter
ver in the effort to reach this result
llis to be expected, nay it is almost a
Ger. lintyfthat the President will oppose
this relief of the people by all means in
his power.
is true that Mr.. Taft has said in his
pub ic speeches both before or since his
el ion that he was in favor Of reduc-
10 Of the tariff, but it is well known
II he has broken his anti-election prom
isss in this respect, and not only has he
bruken his pledges, but has publicly said
tllat the present nefarious tariff system
is the best that the country has ever had.