Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-13
Where Was ''Our Charlie"
When Vote Was Taken?
Is The RECIPROCITY" Enthusiasm
OF The Maine Senator Oozlng?
Democrats Like the Town and May
Keep President There TIL Fall.

Washington, d. c., June 12.-
SpeciaD-People at the Capitol have
been inquiring about the mystery of
the action of the Democratic senator
from Maine on the reciprocity" bill
before the finance committee. He was
absent from the committee on finance
the day when the vote was taken and
naturally the Interrogation mark
doomed large. Why? Why? He was
not absent from Washington. The
interest in the reciprocity" matter was
intense and while it was pretty gen.
orally understood that the bill would
be reported back to the Senate with
out recommendation there was plenty
o. opportunity for maneuvering from
which one side or the other might
gain some advantage.
Senator johnson allowed it to be
understood that he was for the Root
amendment, requiring the provinces
OF Canada to remove export duties
before the pulp and paper clauses of
the agreement should go into effect.
He also allowed word to go forth that
report of the bill. But he was not
there to vote and all the other mem
bers of the committee We're.
The new Maine senator has been
widely advertised and Washington
folks have heard that he would re-
fleet great credit upon the Maine
Democrats. They expected to see
him come out strong on the finance
committee. as the Senate Democrats
accorded him the unusual honor of a
place on that greatest of Senate COM
mittees, in spite of the fact that he is
a new senator. There was no criti-
cism when Senator johnson sat SILENT
ly through the long drawn out hear
ings of the Senate committee on fl
nance. AS he was new to the work.
it was proper enough for him to leave
the Older men TO lead in the con-
troversy.
For two or three days before the
committee reached a vote, Senator
johnson wars not around much and the
suggestion was heard that the Maine
Democrat was webbing. How true
this was every man is left free to
judge for himself but the significant
fact remains that while Senator
johnson. absent, left word how he
would vote. if present, he was not
paired. and had not Senator Smoot.
of Utah. changed front there would
nave been votes enough at the last
moment, in the absence of Senator
Johnson. to report the bill to the SEN
ate adversely. That. of course.
M
offers ground for comment that Sena-
tor Johnson may not be so earnest for
reciprocity as some other Demo-
Gratis.
Ihere is resignation everywhere at
the capitol as the month of June
wears away-not resignation of places
and positions. one may be sure. but
a spirit of resignation. The restive-
ness and restlessness that found voice
III worrying and fussing about the date
OF adjournment, have disappeared
Senators and representatives and en-
pioyes are no longer lying in wait
with that question on their lips The
prophets of a get -away day in June.
IN july, and even in August are silent.
The city. in an official and Con-
gressional way. has settled down ia
business. The realization that the
grip of the extra session can not
easily be broken is now abroad. The
Democrats are adamant. They do not
care three woopees whether Congress
stays in session till next October or
not and they say so. When YOU have
determined men of that caliber
around, what is the use trying Ia
caJole them into disposing of business
and getting home?
There is necessarily much going and
coming of late. The House member
ship oozed away when business the
Stacked up but now the House is goiue
at 1t full tilt again. The debaters or
the wool and wooden revision are
rather wearisome. The mediocre ora,
tors are participating chiefly. and day
in and day out the talking progresses
while hardly so members are upon the
floor Perhaps some of the represent,
atives read the speeches in the Con.
gressional Record. but the work /.
done in no small part for the voter.
back home.
The Democrats are trying to square
their ancient doctrine of free WOO
with the pending BILL allowing duty
of 20 per cent, and the Republican
leaders have been marrying them mer
cilessly. The Democrats are begin
ming to think that they have "prett,
tough proposition" but feel that thei
safety is in the fact that the revision
of wool and wooden schedules can no
become law before the next presiden
tial election. thanks to the Republican
Senate, and therefore the people ma,
not find out how bad that Democratic
revision is.
Tine House is to be allowed to tall
| itself to standstill on this schedule
Any man who wants time can get i
by applying and thus the Democrat
House enhances it's reputation 70
| free speech and voluminous Congress
| sional Record. These certainly are hi