The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-09-07
DAKOTA AFFAIRS
At WASHINGTON
POST MORTEMS NOW BEING TAX.
EN- OVER RECENT SESSION
OF CONGRESS
PRESIDENT TAFT AFTER lAFOLLETTE
Attacks Upon Progressives Threatens
Split in Republican Party-Champ
Clark Has His "Say"

All the big 'uns have taken to hold
ing post mortems, now that Congress
is we'll out OF the way. President Taft
went out into Massachusetts to speak
his mind on the tariff revision bills
which he had vetoed, and besides pay
ing his respects to the Democrats in
Congress, singled u Senator LaFol-
lette as the king bee of insurgency.
The other progressive Republicans
We're referred to as Mr.. LaFollette's
Associates and in the most scath-
ing terms the President condemned
the course of the Republicans who
combined with the Democrats in Con
gress, stating that in the case of the
between avowed free traders and
avOwed protectionists, a bill conceived
in an unnatural alliance, a bill the re-
suit of political log rolling for the
purpose of securing its passage, a
bill framed in ignorance of the exact
effect of its operation" The Progress
sives We're no doubt rather stunned
by the attack from the President. and
there Immediately followed a fusillade
of back talk" from different quar-
ters, and Notwithstanding the fact that
Mr.. Taft has been attacked by Senator
LaFollette and other insu gent leaders
on the floor of the Senate, there were
a good many people who seemed in
clined to think the President had
made a mistake in dealing in person
alities. About the same time Speaker
Champ Clark, the official mouthpiece
of the Democratic party, and one Of
the leading candidates for the Presi-
dency, had his SAY" about matters.
He had journied as far west as Hi
nois, when he voiced his views on
the affair of the late session Of con-
gress, and according to his diagnosis
as one of the principles at the in
quest, the faults of government rest
mostly with the President. whom he
declares stand for a handful of pro-
tected tariff barons. and by his veto
(of the wool bilD enables them to
continue unjust and exorbitant tri-
butte upon the consumers Of the land"
Official and political Washington will
pay little attention to the differences
between Republicans and Democrats.
but the fact that the breach is con-
stantly widening between Republican
factions, and that headquarters of the
Progressive League have been opened
in Washington, with the supposed
purpose of defeating a denomination
Of President Taft, presents a serious
condition, and while no one for a
moment believes that the probable
support of this League will bring
about the nomination of Senator La
Toilette yet the breach in the organi-
zation is causing no end Of satisfac-
bioII w IL ~ oNop II ~ az
last week have been shouting louder
than ever that they will be able to
elect the next President. Senator La
Toilette is no longer dividing honors
with any of his fellows, but is the
u%ndisputed leader Of the insurgency
movement, and his old friend and ally
from Wisconsin, Walter L. Houser,
has been chosen as sort OF a general
manager in charge of the League here.
Most of the Wisconsin Congressman
are identified with the movement, and
quite likely the Chicago Tribune will
be the mouthpiece in the middle west.
Medill Mccormick has been here from
Chicago during the last few days, and
has issued a statement showing that
he is in line with the movement.
Senator Poindexter and Congressman
LaFollette OF Washington, are counted
as being warm supporters OF the move
ment, and Senator Borah of Idaho is
also thought to be anti-Taft. Some
claim Is also made that Congressman
French, who shows Progressive ten
denotes, may be found in the anti
Administration column, but his friends
in the Capital say that such will not
be the case. Montana and Wyoming,
and likely South Dakota will give
no comfort 10 the LaFollette move
ment, but Nebraska Is the home OF
that splendid fighter, George W. Nor
ris, and both he and Senator Brown
are supposed to be against Mr.. TAFT.
Minnesota is seething with insur-