The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-13
crxrrRl<c ON THE SENATE,

v-i1I .be s7ecial interests Of tho country ever
,.s~, shat conditions have changed at Wash
f.etanr VIII they ever learn that the
country has decided that the work Of the great
industries and business houses and banks IL 70
attend to the business Of manufacturing ana ouS-
ing and selling and banking and not to attend 10
ire government Of the nation? VIII they ever
learn that the senate Of today Is not the senate
If The davs Of Mark Hanna and German and
Smith?
siaeo the beginning Of the remarkable growth
81 business In :he United States there has been
q partnership between business and the govern
inert with the United States senate serving as
corporation counsel. Legislation opposed by the
silent mariner In the firm was fought III fhe
house as d matter of form, but when defeated
there the senate always stood as the bulwark
against the Efforts Of the country TO effect
dissolution II was always the senate upon
which the special interests relied, and the senate
seldom failed them.
II Is different now though 1t seems difficult
fer some people to understand When the tarih
htll was introduced in the house perfunetory
show of opposition developed, but it was in the
senate that the great fight of the special inter
eats affected bv the new schedules made.
That body was subjected to onslaughts from all
rr7r f777-trts ttT-orretrr national etft-
tai and conducting their business so aggreasiYeiy
that President Wilson was forced to make pub
lie protest In spite OF their efforts, however
the lines Of the tariff reformers held firm and
the bill was passed
This defeat 9eeras not TO have taught its les
sen, and the same tactics are TO be used In an
effort 10 defeat the currency BIN The passage
of that measure in the house ia assured. At
tacks are being made upon one or two proyi
sions Of the bill. but the fight is lukewarm. aud
when IA comes up for passage the vast majority
OF the Democrats in the house and some OF the
Republicans and Progressiyes viii be found vot
ing for It. II viii go to the senate approved
BY an overwhelming majority Of the lower
branch.
But here again the real fight win come, Cpor
the senate viii fall the brunt Of the attack Al
kinds OF arguments and every species OF persua
sion Will be employed In an effort 10 induce th'
senate to defeat the bill or, at least to postpone
action. There viii be pleadings against haste
AFTER years Of delay There viii be arguments
Of tyranny In forcing the national banks t.
enter into the agreement, though the agree
men,s are fair, injuring none save those WIZ
possess favors by special grant OF government
There will be pressure brought in various ways
and for weeks the senators will be forced to re
sist attacks from practically the same Interests
they have been resisting for months.
II will all be futile The senate Is not tn
senate OF old II Is no longer gentleman
club in which representatives of the Interests
sit by right Of purchase, but legislative body
representing all the people Moreover, woodrow
Wilson is in the White House, and his power
has already been felt more than once. Thu
measure viii be passed, we believe. and passe'
at this session of congress, and another proc
will be given that the partnership between th'
government and big business has been dissolved