The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-26
INSURGENTS WILL
Have MORE POWER
Influence of Progressives in
Extra Session Will Be
Generally Felt.
~ SYDNEY EsPEv

NdsubuktOH, MuISu w H'H III"
United States senate meets In special
session April 4. IA situation utterly
dissimilar to any presented In the last
quarter century Of its parliamentary
history will develop. The cruX Of this
situation will be the capitalization
Of n third party In Congress- pro
grcssive wing" partly drawn from the
Republican, and partly from the Dem
ocratic party. leagued to defend the in
terests OF the people against Special
Privilege.
Hitherto the Progressives have been
known as insurgents. They formed
q revolutionary band, practically with
out organization, and fought the pio-
neer battles against the Aldrich oblig-
archy. In the face Of the most un:
scrupuious tactics by their opponents.
The result of the last elections has
strengthened their position wonderful
~. and they are no past the expert
mental stage. With their less radical
allies Oh both sides of the chamber
they are In a position to dominate the
senate from this time forward. The
strong arm Of Aldrich, whose leader
ship maintained absolute control for
big business interests in the senate
for so many years. is gone and he has
no successor.
Ten Are Proeressives.
The Republican Progressives are
ten in number, with several others
who are strongly progressive in ten
dancy. These ten are Clapp, La Fol-
lette. Gronna, Borah, Bourne, Bristow,
Cummins, Townsend. Works and Poin-
dexter. Senator Beveridge could be
counted as q Progressive, II he had
succeeded In his fight for reelection.
His successor, John w. Kern, is re-
Garded as u good Democratic progress
sive.
BY combining with the Democrats
when expedient, and withdrawing
their support from the Republican o.
ganization on all measures obviously
IN the interest Of large corporations.
the Progressives plan to exercise a
controlling itcrest In the extra ses-
sion of congress.
On the question OF Canadian reci-
procity, the consideration OF which
was the specific purpose for which
the extra session was called. and on
the general question OF tariff revis-
ion, the Progressives. will be able to
swing the determining votes on any
straight party lineup. Should the
Democrats pursue strong progress
sivc policy, they will be able to con-
troll the senate with the It'd OF the
progressive Republican wing. With
heavy majority In the house OF rep
resentatives. II should not be difficult
for the Democrats to enact whatever
legislation they desire into law. The
only obstacle will be a possible pres
idcntiai veto of progressive legisia-
tion.
VIII Aid on Tariff.
That the progressivcs will be of the
greatest assistance to the Democrats
In framing n tariff legislation Is gen.
orally conceded. Most OF the tariff
experts In the senate are Progressive
cs. a fact which was demonstrated
clearly enough In the great debate on
the aPyn. Aldrich bill In 1909. In this
debate few Of the Democratic senators
made a scientific study OF the SEIZED
ulcs. Many of them cared to gain
desired protection for their home pro
ducts. They assumed distinctly pro
yincial and parochiai point OF view
Now. however. they are committed to
tariff revision. and to tariff for rev
enuc only" as Il broad. national pol
icy.
The present indication are that the!
intend to place this tariff for revenue
only" upon the statute books at the
earliest possible moment. They VII
probably try the 'piecemeal scheme
Of revision ut the coming special ses
sion and first attack some of the
schedules which are VIGOROUSLY un
lust. Complete tariff revision probab
" will not come until 1913. and ther
only in the case of Democratic success
IN the National elections In 1917.
The Progressives will render able
assistance In this plan OF revision
schedule by schedule. Complications
viii arise. unquestionably, out OF the
debate on the Canadian reciprocity
agreement. Some Democrats favor
making this agreement merely rid
or" to a general tariff bill. and give
President Taft the alternative of &C
ccpting both or gaining neither. Sucf
a plan could be worked out provided
there was no conflict between thu
reciprocity agreement and the tariff
measure. Lower duties on certain
commodities other than those speci
fled In the agreement would not in
validate Il. since Canada is willing Il
take as low tariff rs Is offered her
but higher duties would. Some OF the
Progressives are known to view thu
reciprocity agreement with disfavor
because Of its discrimination agains
the farmers. without any compensat
ing lowering of duties on manufac
lures, but they may be willing I,
waive their objections to gain larger
end.
Present Solid Front.
While the Progressives will present
a solid front of all tariff legislation
II Is not likely that she Democrats will
and this factor In the situation ma,