Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-02-11
PLATFORM is
NOT BINDING
Congress Not Sure Of the
c0n7sntion Pledges.
~ ARTHUR ". DUNN.


Washington, Feb. IL. TSpeciai-]-
Complaint Is made that q great many
things have been attempted which are
not In the Republican platform. SEN
ator Lodge called attention to the over
whelming adverse vote in the last ma
tipnal convention when an attempt was
made to incorporate a plank for the
election of senator's by, direct vote and
stated that az one reason why there
was no command for the party to pass
the amendment.
But there was nothing in that plat
form for a tariff board or for Canadian
reciprocity. yet both have become fea-
lures of the administration program.
1T was said that when Roosevelt was
insisting upon railroad legislation and
several other measures that they were
not mentioned In the platform.
1t Is q fact that many platform rec
concentrations are ignored by congress
and others not mentioned in the party
declarations are taken up. That Is the
situation at the present time.
Hard to Decide.
Senators and representatives are Of
ten up against It," In order to get
the resolution Tor the election OF sena-
tors before the senate 1t was neces-
sary for a majority vote to displace the
Alaska coal leasing bill
That measure Is OF great Importance.
1t mean much to the people of Alaska
and the whole Pacific northwest. But
1t went by the board in order that the
election OF senators by direct vote
might have the right of way.
Probably a majority of the senate
preferred to have the Alaska bill con-
sidered, and many believed 1t was of
greater Importance just now than the
measure which took Its place. But de-
feat or postponement Is the destiny Of
all measures standing In the way of
what the people want.
Believes In Hitchcock.
President Taft believes in Frank FL.
Hitchcock. No longer does the poIiti-
cal writer who desires to keep some
where near the truth make cabinet
changes and GUST Hitchcock from the
postofice department. More than that,
the president believes that Hitchcock
Is the best economist In his admins
tration.
Hitchcock showed more dollars and
cents saved than any other man. II
is true that he was hauled oyer the
Goals in congress for not promoting
clerks, for not establishing more rural
routes and for an alleged eurtailment
OF the railway mail service, but fhf
money statement showed a saving III
the p~ostoflce, and Mr.. Taft stands lby
the head ofsthat department
doe Fordney on the Job.
1t has never been definitely determin-
ed whether Senator Scott OF West Yir-
ginia or Congressman Fordney is the
most intense protectionist in congress
In fact there Is no need to decide, be-
caslse both are for "A tariff ss high as
1T can be made, and then some.
Ever since the Canadian reciprocity
agreement was sent to congress Ford
ney has been the busy man. Not a
man who could be persuaded to oppose
the agreement has been missed In his
careful Ihs other day ne
met Senator Bourne and went at him
ON the subject OF reciprocity.
"I'm with you. Joe,p said the Oregon
man. 'sThen let's slip EN- ~ from the
bottom Of the deck" SAL Fordney.
Would Try the "sons."
A man on the way to the capitol
handed a letter to a fellow street car
passenger and asked him to read 1T
The letter was In a foreign language,
and no one could do better than to
say 1t was In Swedish.
.'IIl take 1T to Senator Stephenson
he said, stor Senator Swanson. I guess
either of them can read IT." He be
1ieved that every mar whose name end
ed IN stson'' was Scandinavian, which
Is often the case in many northwestern
localities.
Macon Learned Something.
Congressman Scott OF Kansas was
trying to convince Congressman Ma.
con OF Arkansas thai he ought not to
make points OF order indiscriminately
against increase OF salaries, but allow
the house to pass upon the merits of
the increase. II the house rejects an
increase" said Scott. ssand the senate
puts it In the hotse ~conferees will
stand by the house"
when ! first same TO congress"
said Macon. ~ was simple enough TO
take the gentleman's view OF dt. But
I soon discovered It was Impossible.
on a motion. to defeat any proposition
that was attempted to be put through
this house where it was extending the
arm Of anybody into the treasury
Has His Frierds.A
Senator Torimer has friends in con
sress. although opposition to him
breaks out In unexpected quarters.