The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1912-03-08
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON
u. s Press Association

III. s. Press Association
The principle legislative function
of the House Democrats is that of
playing horse with anything concern
ing the tariff, and every effort is
being put forth to frame up legisla-
ton that will pass muster before the
country, and bring about renewal
of the "unholy alliance" in the Sen
ate. The exact purpose undoubtedly
Is to put President Taft in the hole"
and that along about convention time.
Every possible effort is being made
to discredit the tariff board which
has been doing splendid work, and
which came into existence through
a demand of the people of the coun-
try who have become tired of the
process of making football of the
tariff. Unless the Democrats in Con-
gress come to the rescue of the board
it will pass out of existence on June
80. There seems to be determined
effort on hand to refuse an appro-
priation that will permit the board
to carry on its work. The tariff
board in gathering statistics concern
ing the wool industry, did splendid
work, and submitted to Congress fig
ures upon which decent tariff legisla-
ton might rest. BY the same pro-
cess it is plain to those who have
watched the process of the work, that
this institution of the government
was in position to perform further
invaluable service-but the Demo-
Gratis who are not at all particular
about scientific revision, are selling
every opportunity to play politics
with the issue, and one of their
games has been to attempt to discred-
it the work of the board. The Re-
publicans in Congress propose to let
the country know the real motive be-
hind the Democratic movement.
Senator Stephenson of Wisconsin,
has a partial "clean bill" but there
is plenty of opposition in the Senate
to the generous old lumber jack of
Wisconsin. "Uncle Ike" is regarded
as "fine old man." and the only
defense that has ever been brought to
his legislative incumbance is that he
knows how to vote. That is about
the only thing that he has done since
coming to Washington, and it Is ow-
ing to his alleged friendly interest to
what is sometimes known as dan
gerous legislation that most of the
opposition to him is said to have
arisen. Senator Hepburn of Idaho,
who is chairman of the investigation
committee, is insisting upon an ear
ly vote and whatever may be said of
the merits of the Investigation, it
may be said that there is no attempt
being made to string matters out as
has been the case with the Lorimer
serial story.
There are varying opinions in the
national capital regarding legislation
for the District of Columbia; the city
of Washington, which constitutes the
principal part of the territory feel
ing that the legislation received at
the hands of Congress is always in
sufficient for the affairs of a great
city like the capital. However, it is
a fact that majority of the members
are not familiar with the needs of a
metropolitan district like Washing
ton, and the upshot is that there is
persistent and steady demand for
local form of government, which
will permit the citizens of Washing
ton to manage their own affairs, and
entities them at the same time to
the ordinary rights of citizenship.
Missouri, which has for some time
been referred to as the show me"
state, is at the present time as prom
inently in the foreground as any
state in the union. The estimable
Mr. Champ Clark is not gathering all
the laurels either, because Governor
Hadley is considered of sufficient
consequence to be quoted in all of
the great publications of the country
in reference to political conditions as
he sees them. In little talk in st.