The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-28
NO HOPE FOR COOPERATION.

For sixteen years the Democratic party was
the party of opposition. During that time the
Republican leaders charged and not without
truth, that the opposition also a party Of
negation: that 1t spent its energy and it's men,
bers exercised their fntellects in attempting TO
destroy that which the Republicans were build
ing up. and that they gave little thought and
practically efforts toward constructive work.
The further charge that the party was incapa-
Die OF positive action and constructive work
was we'll met during the two years the Democra-
tic party In control of one branch OF con.
gress and has been effectively disposed of within
the few months 1t has been In full control of the
government
Now the Republican party is the minority
party; the party of opposition. 1t Is doing its
best to become the party Of negation Siren.
nous opposition to the Underwood tariff bill was
To have been expected, That bill is directly
contrary to all Republican principles OF tariff
making. 1t is Democratic tariff bill and as
such wholly antagonistic to all Republican
ideas. 1t was not only natural, but right that
the high protectionists within the Republican
party should oppose it at every turn, though
another view must be taken OF the position OF
the so-called Progressives. such as Cummins and
La Toilette and Murdoch and Others.
With the currency bill just introduced, how
ever. the situation changes The Glass-Owen
bill was framed by Democrats and stamped with
the approval Of Democratic president, but In
the larger sense it is not should not be a
party measure. 1t Is, true that all It's life, In
power or out OF power the Republican party has
been party of negation, so far as banking and
currency reform is considered. but it might
have been hoped that, In these days OF broader
vision In politics and government, in these days
when party lines not quite so clear as for.
meriy. in these days when men do not regard
the success Of their party as absolutely essen
tial to the preservation Of the republic in these
days when devotion to country counts for more
than devotion to party. the Republicans in con-
gress might have laid aside for once the thought
OF making political capital to join with the De-
mocrats In passing non-partisan measure AZ
the very least, they might have recognized what
al the rest of the world recognizes now and has
Secognized FOR years, that banking and cur
s3eDey reform is the pressing need OF the hour.
They might at least have approached the sub
ject with open minds and devoted their ener-
gies toward improving the bill where they be-
iieved 1t needed improvement. instead Of bend
ing all their efforts toward defeating any and
nj legislation the subject now or at any
time during the ascendancy of the Democratic
party.
@ That hope is dead. Representative Mann de-
s&IAr0s that he will oppose the bill and will OPP
poee any bill He indicates that little atten-
Hon will be paid to attempts at amendments,
INT that the fght will be against the enact
neat 81 any currency legislation whatever He
EMoes this in language of partisanry; he does
~ u language OF violence, he does IT after the
1nanner OF . bulletheaded ward heeler. Couched
~ better language and delivered with more re-
laenent and with display of fairness and pa
h4otic sentiments. other Republican leaders
Avs made practically the same declaration.
Ge ~ situation rests While the country is