The daily sentinel., 1913-08-06
by Edward Heating.


Congressman at Large From Colorado /
Washington, Aug. Ga drama al /.
most without parallel in the history I
of this nation IS being enacted on the I
floor of the United States senate.
a little band of Bourbon senators I
-discredited reactionaries- en- /
deayOring. under cover OF the anti
quated rules OF the senate, to plunge /
this country into a devastating panic. /
These men constitute less than one I
third of the membership of the upper /
house. All but four of the repre-
sented states which in last election
utterly repudiated the tory party, and :
cast their electoral votes for either
Wilson or Roosevelt.
s They know that the democratic |
majority VIII pass the tariff bill with /
out material amendment, and they
know that the business interests OF
the country are anXiously awaiting
that event, but they refuse to permit
the bill to come to a vote.
Day afer day they droll through
long speeches filled with direful pre-
dictions concerning the industrial pa
ralysis which will follow the success
of the democratic program. Natural
ly these calamitlous prophecies are
carried over the country by the great
news agencies, and "A feeling of un-
easiness is created In certain quar-
ters.
Manufacturing Panic.
In the face of record-breaking
crops and almost ideal commercial
prospects these tories would frighten
the nation into a panic They would
gladly witness crash of banks. The
destruction of industrial enerprises and
the sweeping away of hard-earned
fortunes If as a result they and the in
terests they represent might return
to the control of the government.
Apparently some of the great Wall
Street financial Institutions are par
ties to the conspiracy. They fear the
enactment of the Wilson-Bryan cur
rency bill, which is designed to de- |
strCy the most vicious features of the /
money trust.
Fortunately for the people, the ma
tional government is in strong hands |
Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo /
has already announced that he will /.
use all the power of his department
to frustrate the Vaccinations of the
banks, and President Wilson and the |
democratic majority in the senate /
have served notice on the reaction /
aries that they must be prepared to
assume full responsibility for the re-
suit of the future dilatory tactics.
The country is standing by the
president. Up to date there are no
signs of stampede, and Dun's and
Bradstreets-t two great COM
mercial arometers-fairly eXude op-
timism
Prugressivcs Repudiatc Tories.
In this connection the action of
Senator LaFollette and his friends is
highly significant Fighting Bob"
is not only high-mnded statesman,
but he is a first rate politician as
we'll. The other day he gathered ten
progressive republican senators in his |
office and told them the people of the |
country We're getting mighty tired of
the tactics of the Smoot-Penrose |
crowd. At his suggestion resolutions |
repudiating the tories and their meth |
ods We're prepared and given to the !
press. Since then La Toilette and his
supporters have been voting with the |
democrats on many of the divisions, /
and they have been making II very
clear that they have nothing in com
mon with the Smott-Penrose reac-
tionaries.
The legitimate business interests |
of the country are also making them |
selves heard in no uncertain fashion. |
Business men who are not dependent |.
on special privilege for their exist /
ence are demanding that the demo- |
Gratis be given an Opportunity to test |
the tariff and currency reforms which /
they have promised the people.
The feeling is almost universal /!
that congress should dispose of both |
measures before October / and ad- /
journ and go home. Tho house is |
prepared to do this, and the senate .
would undoubtedly fall into line If
il were not for the little band of |
tories who are making last desper- /
ate stand on the evening of their 1
Waterloo.
To Limit Debate.
The situation In the senate has /
caused a renewal Of the agitation for
the amendment of the rules of that /.
body so as to place reasonable limit /
on debate Senator owen of Okla !
homa-one of the really command /
ing figures in the upper housc-is !
the leader of this movement.
He has pointed out that the exist !
ing rules enable a pitiful minority to
control congress. No measure can be
placed on the statute books until IL
has passed both houses. However
progressive the house and senate and
president may be. they are to a great
extent helpless in the presence of a
prolonged filibuster in the senate.
Six or eight senators can tie up the
business of the upper house for many
months by merely talking, There is
no way under the rules TO stop de-
bate The tools of special privilege
simply drown the hopes Of the peo-
ple in a flood of words. Senator
owen has given notice that he will
press his amendment at the regular
session in December II will un-
doubtedly be adopted II II can be
brought to "A vote.
McAdoo Acts Again.
Talking of panics Secretary Nc
Adoo gave the Wall Street interests
another much-needed illustration of
he power OF the federal government
TO prevent made-to-order panics when
he announced that he could lend the
- Ii .nD.ul SAn nm