New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-01
lFrom The Tribune Bureau.1
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Washington. June 20.
CUMMINSS MALADY.-Senator Cum
minis is suffering from dichotomy. this
dread malady having been superinduced by
amnesic aphasia. When II was learned that
the Senator from Iowa was suffering from
this dire complaint, there was intense sur
prise and regret in the Senate. especially
among the insurgents. The Iowa states
man looks to be in the best Of health. He
is temperate In all his habits, and takes
an abundance of exercise on the golf links,
all of which led many of his colleagues 10
receive the diagnosis with some degree OF
skepticism. On investigation. however, The
sad news was found to be only too true.
Indeed. it has been demonstrated beyond
any possibility Of doubt AS consequence,
the many friends Of the Iowa statesman
are extending their heartfelt sympathy, al
though-and this is regarded as probably
one of the symptoms of his sad affection
he accepts every expression OF sympathy
with outspoken and unwonted irritation.
When first informed of his unfortunate
condition. Mr.. Cummins was disposed to
scout the diagnosis and to laugh to- scorn
those who expressed such grave apprehen-
| sion regarding his condition. but when
| some one slyly suggested that 1t was his
| political health which caused them the
most serious concern, he sought seclusfon
in the Senate library. and demanded that a
large. array of dictionaries be promptly req
| uistioned from the Congressional Library.
| With the aid of these he learned that
dichotomy consists of having or exhibit
| ing that form of logical division in which
! the genus is always divided into two NUT
ually exclusive species Their ne recalled
| the mutually exclusive species OF his views
on Canadian reciprocity when he was
! Governor of Iowa and those entertained by
him as insurgent and anti-administration
| Senator. and he BEGAN to see the light.
| When further research revealed the fact
| that amnesc aphasia describes a condition
in which the patient cannot recall words
and he realized how thoroughly he had
| failed 10 recall the words of his inaugural
| address. which were so startlingly brought
TO his attention yesterday 10y Senator Will
! Jams, he perceived the accuracy with which
| his maady had been diagnosed but,
strange 10 saw his discovery seems in no
way TO have allayed his irritation nor TO
have rendered more acceptable tho condo
lenCeS of sympathizing friends Should the
Iowa Senator decide TO resort to a surgical
operation. il may be stated on the highest
authority. the commander in chief will
cheerfully designate skilled surgeon fran
the army medical corps. who will undertake
70 excise the insurgent growth without
charge. and without anasthetics.
INSURGENTS on DEFENSIvE.-That
dermatous cuticle of o Republican insurgent
was strikingly illustrated to-day. when
Senator Cummins asked unanimous consent
that July he agreed upon for the vote on
his amendments to the Canadian reciproc-
ity bill, explaining that he did not wish 1t
10 he thought that the insurgents were
conducting a flibuster or that they sought
unnecessarily TO delay vote on the meas
IRE and when Senator Bristow also pro-
tested against that implication. This
change Of attitude affords striking evidence
of the fire which the merits of the reci-
procity measure and the support of its adj
vocates have kindled in the insurgent rear.
The reports that the insurgents purposed
TO delay the passage of the measure to the
full extent of their physical endurance
were not unfounded. They were based on
their own emphatic declarations that such
was their purpose. 1t is a fact. however,
that the insurgents perpetrated grave
political blunder when they permitted their
hostility to President Taft to carry them to
the extent of opposing reciprocity. Most
of them are wholly indifferent to the criti-
cisms of that portion Of the press which Is
known as regular" but their course in
this instance brought down on them the
condemnation of both insurgent and vel
low journals. the very newspapers which
have made them politically and the COM
plete loss of whose support would promptly
entail their political humiliation. They
have gone too far 10 retreat gracefully. but