The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-26
WHAT CONGRESS DID.
Democrats Have Confounded Their
Enemies and Even Surprised
Friends by steadfast Campaign.


declared that the Democratic party
set a good example for Democrats
everywhere. and that the party had
redeemed every promise 1t made in
the campaign OF 1910. when the
Democrats wrested control OF the
house from the Republicans.
AT this session the Democrats
have made a record which has sur
Z prised our friends and dumfounded
-Four enemies" said Speaker Clark.
1T has put heart and hope into
Democrats everywherc. The extra
session was extraordinary. not only
I'm the sense OF being a special session
called by the president. bat also In
the amount and quality OF the work
done In the house by the combined
Democrats and Republican insurgents
I'm the senate. and especially by the
unanimity OF action developed by the
house Democrats.
1T was predicted freely. vocifer-
r-cusly. enthusiastically and confident
|fiy by the 'stand-pat' press and ora
tors tnat we would go to pieces. On
that account and by reason OF that
hope they reJoiced that the extra ses-
sion OF congress was called, so that
we might 20 to pieces at the earliest
= possible date. But we have sorely
4 disappointed all their expectations.
They even set the date when we
would 10 TO pieces. which was the
day of the Democratic caucus on jan
uary r. but unfortunately for them
In that case everything was done
\ unanimously. They then said surely
We would go TO pieces as soon as we
reached. the tarif question. but again
they were doomed to disappointment,
and We did not 20 to pieces at all.
We are more Thoroughly united In
the house at the end of the session.
AZ possible. than at the beginning.
: We have set good example to
Democrats everywhere. sneered at
for years as a party OF mere negation
and as being utterly lacking In ability
for constructive statesmanship. We
passed through the house more con-
structive legislation. and better. thai,
has passed through any house in the
same length Of time In 90 years. We
have set the pace In that regard for
future houses.
We redeemed every promise made
In order to carry the elections In
1910. We have economical, We pass
ed the reciprocity bill. the wool tariff
bin. the free list bill. the cotton bill
with the senate amendments. which
included the iron and steel schedule
and the chemical schedule; we sub
mitted for ratification a constitution.
al amendment, providing for popular
! election OF United States senator's:
we passed a bill for the publication
OF campaign expenses before the
election: we llberalized the rules.
making the committees elective by
the house: We passed n resolution to
admit New Mexico and Arizona. and
! we passed a large number OF other
bills of more or less importance. IL
n record OF which we may be
proud and on which we will sweep
the country I'm 1912.
To show how completely the
"stand-pat" Republicans are demor-
allied. IL Is only necessary to quote
the newspaper statements that there
was great rejoicing and congratula-
ticn at tho White House because we
failed by a scratch to get the two
thirds majority to override the pres
dents veto, although we have only
IS majority In the house. To this
complexion has II come at last. that
the president. who rode into power
by a huge majority. is glad to escape
the humiliation OF having his vetoes
overriden In a house containing a
majority OF only So. Small favors
are thankfully received by the al
ministration.
Notwithstanding the fact that four
cabinet members were on the floor OF
the house lobbying In favor OF the
veto. all their power. alluremen;s and
patronage 0f the administration 20
help them influence votes. 22 insur
gent Republicans had the courage
and manhood To override the presi-
dents vetoes. What's writ is writ.
and whatever the future may have
in store. the honor OF having perfect
unanlmity among the Democrats and
OF aChieveing an extraordinary