Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-05-03


WILLIAM s. KENYON,
And eleven other United States
senator's"
Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, May 3.--A great deal OF
interest has been manifested here in
! the record made by the republican
United States senators who form the
progressive group in regard to the or
ganization of the senate. BY many
| the incident, is regarded as one of the
most significant in American politics
IN recent years. 1t marked the fact
that republican senators have not been
shaken by the pressure upon them and
they are ready to stand firm for prin-
ciple regardless Of the dictates of the
bosses
An effort has been made to create
the erroneous impression that what
was done was to make an effort to Sc
cure better places for each and all the
progressive republicans and that their
action was inspired by disappointment
IN personal way A letter from
washington states that as a matter of
tact all that was asked by the progress
slves was that two places be given
members OF their group and this be-
cause OF service and signal ability In
each case. They asked that La Fol-
lette be placed on the interstate COM
merce committee and that Bristow be
placed on the finance committee. Both
are among the older members and en-
titled to such recognition.
Modest Request Refused.
But when this modest request was
refused the progressive republicans
contented themselves with signing
formal protest and having it inserted
in the Congressional Record, thus plac-
Ing on record just what views they
mold In regard to the important work
OF congress and the part played by the
progressive people Of the country This
was signed by thirteen republicans, the
only state in which both of the SEN
ators signed being Iowa
A peculiar thing about it is that
| while the press associations carried the
story of the presentation Of the protest
and that it was signed by thirteen
senators. including both from Iowa, the
fact was all but overlooked by Des
Moines papers, only one paper printing
on the day Of the event and the story
being lost before morning.
The Progressive Statement.
Inc statement which was signed I'M
as a sort OF platform for progressive
repuollcanlsrn by the thirteen repub-
mean senators who represent progress
siVe constituencies started off "a fol-
| lows:
| FOR several years marked differ
| encas have been developing within the
republican party in many states. These
uiiferences nave been along clearly de-
1ined lines Of legislative action de-
signed to meet the demands resulting
from changed economic conditions ar
fecting the Industrial life OF the ma
| ton.
The statutes so enacted have be-
come generally known as progressive
statutes and that element of the re-
publican party which has secured the
enactment Of such legislation has be-
come generally known as the progress
slve element of the republican party.
In the logic Of events it was newt
able that the rapidly growing pro-
gress1ve sentiment Of the progressive
states should find expression in the
senate OF the United States. and for
several years the proceedings of the
senate have from day to day recorded
marked and well defined differences in
body
Out Of the total republican vote Of
the senate more than one fourth is to-
day emphatically progressive republi-
can This fs a settled and established
TACT in political history. The country
knows It. The senate can not ignore
1t.
No Division on Party Policies.
The differences which create divf-
sion IN the republican party are not
upon matters of party policy. but re-
iate TO the most important subjects OF
legislation and the gravest problems
which confront the American people
These differences represent not merely
conflicting personal opinions Of differ
ent individual senator's They repre-
sent fundamental differences in con
vfctions involving the welfare Of ninety
million people. If the progressive re-
publican senators should fail to repre-
sent the progressive public opinion Oh
their states they would be swept aside
and their places filed with men who
would faithfully represent that public
OPINION. they failed to protest
against the denial of REPRESENTATION
upon the most important committees IN
the senate they would be ren1iss in
| @''SA- fHoAi| 'tlbSS. INplI protest is
not made to advance the personal am
billions Of any senator 1t Is made be-
cause we who make it can not permit
10 pass unchallenged resolution de-
nying to millions of people their rigr,
to be fairly represented upon the com
Tnittees which frame the most in,port-
ant legislation passed by the United
States senate.
Under the organization OF the sen
ate the committees have a potentfa-
influence in shaping legislation. All
bills first go to committees before be.
ing considered. The COMMITTEES has
power to amend any bf1i IN arty WA,
or substitute another bill Tor Il. Or re-.
fuse to report the btu back to the sen.
ate FOR consideration. IN that even,
It dies, never having reached the cal.
eyidar ct the senate.
Divisions Not Represented.
Having this great power ana irnu.
ence over legislation, tt IL Of the high
est Importance that the COMMITTEES,
should represent In their membership
as nearly as possible the controlling