Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-04-19
where Are Bristow and Cummins


Philadelphia Public Ledger: Only
observers who have had long ex-
perience in politics can really I'M
derstand the amazing situation in
which Taft the object of a general
attack by the progressives and in
sGrgents, is now practically the only
real inSurgent in the field. Bev-
eridge is genuine sort of insur-
gent in some particulars, but Bev-
eridge was defeated for reelection.
The eminent insurgent leaders like
Bristow, La Toilette and Cummins
the men who courted martyrdom
for the sake Of principle where
are they? Where is that sthpendous
moral engine which was to redeem
the nation and purify the people
the National Progressive League?
1t is unbelievable, of course, but
none the less true that though they
were all as noisy and as aggressive
as the pot-valiant Falstaff during
the preliminary campaign of words,
they have become arrant towards in
the tented field when deeds are to
be done.
Taft is now the leader of his
party in support of the one real pro-
gressive policy before the country.
The national Progressive League, or
the men who formed that organiza-
iton, have for more than two years
denounced and stunned Taft on the
ground that he was reactionary
| on the tariff. He was sedulously
and consistently attacked and OPP
posed because he was charged with
being allied with the interests
and subservient to special priv
ileges.' He was supposed to be the
| friend of the trusts, co-partner
with Cannon as an obstacle to prog
ress, and foe to the people.
The insurgents fought him. They
made the welkin ring with appeals
for the popular vote on senator's
for freedom of debate in congress
for primaries and for every known
legislative device for the purpose Of
giving the people an opportunity tt
express their real opinion of the
| tariff and to choose senators ant
other public servants who should
reflect the peoples will. The whole
strength and momentum of thi:
contest against Taft was based or
the Payne-Aldrich tariff. The vol
uble insurgents wanted to revise al
of this machinery of government fol
the purpose of enacting Legislation
and establishing progressive policies
of which the chief was the revision
of the tariff.
Mr. Taft is not very nimble OF
dextrous politician. He is plair
man and he naturally thought thai
the insurgents and the progressiyes
really meant what they said He
believed that they had demanded re
form legislation when they prateC
OF reform and he had not the slight
est idea that the glittering general
tiles of the insurgents and progress
sives were mere moonshine intend
ed to advance a faction while the
people were gulled. Mr.. Taft has
had not the faintest suspicion thai
the agitation was solely political
He believed that the insurgents anC
those whom they represent wanted
lower tariff and his belief was
confirmed by the results of the cleo.
4 tons. He therefore went ahead and
offered the insurgents real reform
They Immediately dropped their in
surgency, and now stand with
Speaker Cannon, that wicked old
man who is the chief enemy of his
country"
Fortunately, the people recognize
hypocrisy and humbug when they
see them, and If the reactionary in.
surgents and the retrogressive pro-
gressives fail to support Canadian
reciprocity, the Democrats will al
last fall heirs to a political fortune