The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-07-18

gibson GARDNER the one real inde-
N .n0,nt in congress. He IL the one
man who has the courage to really
cast every time moral vote. His
votes have been almost suicidal. His
colleagues admit that he Is the one
man who has the courage to cast
moral votes. They admire him for
IT. They tell him privately often that
they believe as he believes, but that
no man who is in politics and who Is
game. can do as he does and not suffer
political death.
For example, Kent promises his
constituents that he will not case
sectional vote" SO when the ques-
ton arises as to renting tolls to
American ships passing through the
Panama Canal, in spite OF the fact
that all the Pacific Coast Is clamor-
ing for this form of subsidy to Ameri'
can coastwise ships, Kent votes In
the negative, because he believes that
this. would amount indirectly to
subsidy to private ships-a subsidy
which would benefit his people on the
coast. but which would be an unfair
burden supported by taxes On peo-
pie In the central portions OF the
country, where Kent does not Hive.
When the Sherwood dollar-a-day pen
sion bill comes up, Kent, although he
has soldiers homes and hundreds OF
influential and voting veterans In his
district, votes against the bill, and
his private secretary, who Is his
political manager, goes to bed with
nervous prostration.
When the rivers and harbors bill
comes up and members come to Kent
and say that they will have the gov
eminent pay the cost OF survey
along the little bay on which his dis
trict borders, he says he would pre-
fer to have the cost imposed on the
owners of the property who are TIE
people interested and who ought to
pay. His colleagues turn white and
60 away with staggering steps.
When the wool bill comes up, Kent
One OF the largest growers of sheep
on the Pacific Coast and chief bene-
ficiary of the wool tax--votes for the
largest reduction In duties on wool
and makes speech denouncing
tariffs in general and the wool duties
In particular.
And these are only few samples
OF the Independent votes which Kent
is magnificent, but Is II politics?"
They tell him he can't live and do tina
Thoy tell him he can't live and do that
kind Of thing. They tell him every spe-
cial privilege which he has offended
will remember and the 95 per cent
will forget. Kent says: "Oh, very well;
let them go ahead; am going to run
by petition and put 1t up to the So
per cent II they want me they can
have me. II they don't II. go batk
to my cattle business"
Administration pressure, has been
brought 20 bear on Commissioners OF
Indian Affairs Valentine to resign.
Thc latter declines TO do so. The
trouble arises over the so-called Val
entire religious garb order" Sew
eral months ago, without consulting
anybody. Commissioner Valentine or
dered that henceforth the teachers In
the 23 Indian schools supported by
the government should desist from
the use Of religious insignia or garb
while on duty In general assembly
exercises or In the school rooms.
There are 70 nuns and several priests
who for years have taught In the gov
eminent Indian schools, who would
be affected by this order. A protest
backed by iN1uential Catholics was
at once laid before President Taft
who ordered that the Valentine rul-
ings should be suspended until he
could inquire into It. He has been
too busy campaigning to attend TO
the matter personally, and Secretary
II III a uo
so that nothing has been done. Mean
time Protestant organizations have
become interested on the one hand
and Catholic organizations on the
other and determination of the
question either way will be the oc-
Icasion for fooling.
American shipping on the Great
Lakes passes through the Welland
Canal only by Great Britains con.
sent The canal Is entirely under
British Jurisdiction. This Great
Lakes traffic is the most important
shipping interest which the United
States has. II Great Britain should
suddenly impose conditions and lin
itatIons on the use OF this canal the
blow to American commerce would
be serious and the jar to our inter.
national relations would be equally
serious. All OF which Is a new, and
as vet not sufficiently contemplated
phase OF the British demand that the
United States shall not discriminate
against foreign ships In the use OF
the Panama canal by Femitting tolls
II the American ships. At the pres
ent writing the sentiment OF congress
ia To 'sIat the Britisher holler"