The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-03-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(By Winfield Jones }


Washington, d. c., Feb. 29.-Demo-
cratic leaders in congress are steer
ing their control of legislation in the
middle of the straight and narrow
path. Dangers that are thrust at them
from the republicans have so far been
strategically avoided. Democratic
house leaders are playing the political
game these days for all there is in 1t,
and with rapidity and skill that has
caused consideration in the republican
camp.
1t is true that the plans of the DEM
ocrats have not escaped the vigilance
of the old guard republicans, but many
of the newly elected republicans in
both the house and the senate who
have not had the experience that their
older colleagues enjoy show no signs
of realizing what is happening, or of
understanding the effect on the coun-
II try of the program the democratic
house leaders are trying to put
through But the more progressive
and broad-gauged republicans do UNI
derstand the situation and they do not
conceal their anxiety over it.
According to the gossip in the con-
gressional cloakrooms, the democratic
/ leaders in the house have shown ca
pacity for good legislation that was
generally anticipated They have
/ dealt with various measures brought
iup for discussion in a way to give en-
/ tire satisfaction to the country at
large, and have gone about their du-
ties in conscientious and statesmen
like manner, They have surprised
their republican colleagues by their
manner of taking hold of the control
of legislation.
Their decision to reduce the duties
on long list. of necessaries of life,
and the plan to revise the tariff sched-
ules, particularly those relating to
wool and cotton, which will undoubt-
edly be carrie dout. will unquestion-
ably have the approval Of the voters
of the country at large.
From the way that things are going
now in the halls of congress it is the
general opinion that the, democrats
are going to do exactly what they said
they would do at election time, and
those things that the public demands.
Consequently in the campaign of 1872
the independent voters will not for
get the activities of the democrats
along these lines when the democratic
candidate is put up for election to sue
ceed President Taft in the White
House.
Naturally the question has risen and
been much discussed: What are the
republicans doing to win the popular
ity of the people and TO conteract the
prestige that the democrats are OBJ
tanning by their policies?
Nothing. This is the general opin-
ion in Washington
AS ldI do luG SilhdtAIh iObho lOAe3
the republicans in the house and sen
ate show no indications that they are
doing anything adequate TO meet the
conditions On the other hand they
have been accused of following an
obstructionist policy, especially in the
house, but owing to democratic ma
jority their efforts are unavailing. III
the senate, where the regular repub
licans hold the balance OF power
there is no disposition on the part oi
the republican senators to yield any
thing in tariff reduction that is not
compulsory This is shown conclusive
! ly by the determination OF the reg
} ulars" in the senate to insist OH keep
J ing control of the finance committee
and to bring in high tariff measures
protecting the ideas advanced by Sen
ator Aldrich and other hifh protection
lists. On campaign publicity. on dl
rect election of senator's and Other
questions apart from the tariff. ths