The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-05-18
Washington Letter.

washington, May 10. especial. -
In six weeks the democratic house of
representatives has passed more pro-
gressive and antitrust legislation
than the republicans passed in four
teen years administration of that
branch of congress.
The achievement up-to-date in
cludes the passage of bill providing
for the publicity of campaign contr-
buttons before instead of after cleo
tons; the election of United States
senators by direct vote of the people;
reciprocity with Canada and the
farmers free list bill, with other
similar legislation to follow prompt
ly.
Agitation for much Of this legis-
lation has been going on for years.
The republicans heard the demand
of the people for relief, but could
not enact such legislation as has been
passed by the democratic house be-
cause they had for years been receiv-
ing enormous campaign contrihu-
interests which are opposed to pro-
gressive legislation Of the character
passed by the democrats.
The republicans have not only
been, obliged not to interfere with
the monopolies and profits of the
tariff trusts, but because of having
accepted campaign funds from the
great corporations they have been
practically compelled to extend i'm
munity to them from investigation
as well as prosecution.
More than score of resolutions
providing for the investigation Of
the steel trust, the sugar trust and
the other big industrial combines
were introduced in every session of
congress while the republicans were
in power. These resolutions, one and
all, were referred to committees
that had been especially packed by
Speaker Cannon with men friendly
to special privilege, withs the result
that all such resolutions died in
committee.
Now it is different. For the first
been acute, the house of representa-
tives have an antitrust majority.
The result is that the big commit
tees are manned by men who are
free to go ahead and investigate, and
if the evidence warrants, to take
proper steps toward bringing about
the prosecution of illegal combina-
tions in existence in restraint Of
trade.
For the first time in good many
years the capitol of the United
States will soon be the scene Of hon
est Investigations of the industrial
trusts of the country.
Heretofore it has been impossible
for the government to control the
trusts because the trusts controlled
the government. Now it is to be de-
termmed whether the government
of the people or special privilege
shall occupy the saddle.
What the Free List Bill is.
Upon close investigation the farm
ers' free list bill becomes a mighty
interesting L-measure.@ -@ It~-untaxes
many articles the farmers use, but
it means about as much to all other
consumers. It puts 100 articles OF
common use on the free list and it
is estimated that it will save the
public some 100000, GOO. The
measure won't hit the revenues hard:
either The tariff is NEATLY prohib
tive on the 100 articles concerned,
SO that the custom gets only $780,
900 frNn this source.
Republicans FGi3Orn.
Dismayed at the reverses sustain
ed in the last election, discouraged
over the outlook for the future, and
realizing that they can take no
stand against the progressive demo-
cratic legislation that will be backed
up by popular sentiment, the repub-
lican minority in the house of repre-
sentatives present a sorry spectacle.
Minority leader Mann seems to be
following no set policy, except one
Of general obstruction to anything
the democrats may suggest
Differing radically on the issues,
the republicans are not even har-
monious on Mr.. Mann's policy of OBJ
struction. Progressive republicans
like William Kent, of California, de-
clare they were not elected to waste
time in blocking legislation or in
badgering any other party. He was
elected to serve the public interest,
and he intends to do this. Several
other progressives hold the same
view, which makes Mr.. Mann's po-
sition all the more trying.
The majority of the republicans,
how ever. do nothing but grumble
and oppose, apparently incapable OF
understanding that the public can
not be deceived by unintelligent
partisan action, which has no higher
purpose than that of public decep-
tion in the interest Of a political or
ganization already in public disfav-
or.
Inconsistent Action.
Most of the republican members
of the house of representatives who
voted against reciprocity sought to
defend their votes by declaring the
measure was against the best inter-
ests of the farmers, and that as they
prided themselves upon being friends
of the farmers at every turn in the
road, they could not bring them
selves to vote for the reciprocity
bill.
Then came the farmers free Visit
bill, which untaxed agricultural i'm
plements and nearly everything the