The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-05-24
"HAMSTR|N GIN c"
RECIPROCITY IN
THE SENATE
Upper House Playing wearl-
some Game Of Subterfuge
DEMOCRATS ARE ASSISTING
Endeavorlnq to Put the odlum Of
Prospective Failure Upon Party In
Power.
DEMOCRATS ARE ASSISTING

Washington, May 22.-People pass
ing by the White House this morning
were astonished and somewhat mysti-
fed by large sign in the street bear
ing this significant legend: Danger!
Look out for the Steam Roller!" BY
few it was thought to convey
warning to the Mexican revolutionlsts
but the general impression was that
the president had declared war on the |
opponents of reciprocity and was !
about to unlimber for action. The !
fact that the street department was at |
work in the vicinity might have been
reasonably connected with the sign,
but the vast majority inclined to the
belief that the successor of the Big
Stick had hit the rail.
It is sincerely to be hoped that this
opinion is the correct one. ii strikes
the average citizen that the evident
policy of the senate to hamstring reel
procity or TO wear II to fragile by
wearisome delay has gone about far
enough. Whatever may be individual
opinion as to the merits or dement's
mediate trial and verdict. In fairness,
vote it up or down. Give 1t Its day IN
court However, this is not the pro-
gram 1t has not been done, Is not
being done and there are no present
indications that it is going to be done.
. Today the same old policy OF inertia
and refusal to squarely meet the is
sue prevails which has marked all the
dealings with this matter in the SEN
ate. 1t reminds one OF Spanish bull
fight, where the policy is to delay the
I butchery as long as possible until the
animal is worn out by incessant stabs
h and labs. The toreador will not meet
him when he is fresh, but will torture
I him into ''innocuous desuetude.' AS
far as it is possible to see any reason
in the conduct of the senate in respect
:, to it's attitude on this measure the
II situation is precisely the same. Every
II lscheme and stratagem Is being worked
III to prevent any vote on the PLAIN pro
II position as it came into the senate
III and this is extremely likely to sue
III coed. There is the more probability
II of this from the fact that several sen
ii ators who would be morally compelled
TO vote for the bill unamended are
III working with those who are openly
ii opposed TO it to hamstring or emascu
II late il in some way in order to kill II
II by indirection.
iii AS has been explained, the demo
II Gratis would vote for ii as party meas
II ure if they had to, but they realize
II that II would be good politics for then
II if they could say hereafter that re
II publican senate refused to pass II
II Therefore they will passively assis
II in any scheme which looks toward III
II undoing.
II Therefore the bill is in the hand
II of its enemies. 1t is surrounded b,
II them on every side. 1t has few II an.
II sincere friends The very latest pol
II of the senate gives possible majorit
II of two or three for the bill If the ser
III ate could be compelled to vote square
II ly on the proposition today, which
II viii not do today, tomorrow or eve
II if it can possibly be avoided. An
II what a large majority of the senate
II to say nothing of practically all OF
does not want to do it will find
way to escape doing.
1t would certainly appear from tn
II course of events that reciprocity
II losing strength every day and hou
II This is noted and emphasized in tn
Root amendment eliminating woo
pulp and print paper from the bill III
der certain conditions. Coming frol
Senator Root, who is warm person;
friend of the president and is listed
favorable to the bill, 1t was at fir
4 x.rfth In
approval. Since then he has denie
II It and protests against 1t. The amer
ment is also indorsed by Senate
II Lodge, also ostensibly friend OF Il
bill and likewise a close friend OF Il
president. This indicates the syste
pursued even by the alleged friends
reciprocity to weaken and change It,.
Then what may we expect when
arrives on the floor of the senat
There the poor, decrepit friendle
thing must run the gauntlet OF doze
of amendments resigned to knock
senseless, and what it will look Ii
when the senate finally has its W
with it is beyond conjecture. But 1t
not yet in the senate. For some r.
son-probably in line with the poll
of delay to the last moment-it st
remains in committee with the p'
sibility of days of hearings yet
fore it. That the committee is ga
ing new light from the interminal
repetition of opposition to 1t is hare
possible, and yet it drags and dra
and nobody knows. Again, why
meet the issue fairly and square
and fearlessly, and settle the matte
Not only this most important m
ter but all other legislation before
senate has thus far been held up
the same unseen forces and paraly2
by the same burrowing tactics. O.
siderable District legislation Is on
calendar and awaiting action,
nothing doing. The re-apportionmt
bill is up in the air somewhere. l
resolution as to the popular elect
of senators has been suppressed FOL
week past evidently afflicted with
hot box. It is rumored that the re
luton will be pushed during this VIC
Int the La Follette-Lorimer meet
posted for today and it may occl
much more time Once more,
the resolution. Seemingly eyeryth
Is a victim of the awful blight Nc
ing doing. M
The House worked steadily