Yellowstone monitor. [volume] (Glendive, Mont.) 1905-1928, 1913-10-23
TOM STOUT'S WEEKLY LETTER
Interesting sidelghts on men and things political

g Interesting Sidellgnts
Washington, Oct, 18, 1918 (Spec-
ial. What ever else may or may not
be said about Jim Mann, the brilliant
and, at times, pestiferous leader OF
the republican minority in the lower
branch Of congress, it certainly can
be veraciously asserted that he is per-
forming the chief function If his pos
ition in a most painstaking manner.
AS congressional history will record,
that function is to make things as en-
barassing as possible for the majority,
to lose no opportunity to take IN
stant advantage of any lapse on the
part of the majority and, in short,
compile record which will furnish
ammunition for making an attack on
the majority at the next ensuing con-
gressional election. | have yet to OBJ
serve where the over-vigilant Mann
has failed to cast a large sized mon-
key wrench in amongst the coe
wheels Of the democratic machine
whenever and wherever he discovered
an opening. He is in his seat from
the moment the blind chaplain as
cends the rostrum to shower the bene-
dictions upon the assembled states
men until the speaker announces that
the motion for adjournment has car
ried. Not a move made or word
spoken in that chamber escapes him.
He is master parliamentarian and a
political tactician par excellence. He
has the members of his own side OF
the house under the most complete and
abiect submission and commands the
wholesome respect of the democratic
leaders. There is not the slightest
doubt that if the republicans should
ever again gain control OF the house,
Mann will be speaker and ! surmise
that he::will be good one as he knows
the rules backward and forward.
Right now, Mann's pernicious ac-
tivities are centered upon making life
a burden for those members who are
des;rous of spending few weeks OF
quiet, peace and politica, fence-fixing
back in their respective districts. In
cidentally, he is, trying to manutac-
sure some political thunder, said thun-
der being commodity Of which Mr..
Mann's party is in dire and growing
need at the present writing. Also,
and in passing, the present session
has not been particularly fruitful OF
real. genuine, old fashioned, hair-rais-
ing republican thunder, the valiant
and persistent efforts Of that woefully
depleted but Industrious little band OF
| thunder makers to the contrary not
withstanding. In truth, while the
| political heavens have been resound-
ing with various and sundry claps o.
perfectly audible thunder it has chief
" been democratic, rather repub
lican, brand. Compared to the thun'
der which Mr.. w. Wilson and his able
lieutenants have been turning loose
since the Fourth of March last past,
the efforts Of Jim Mann and Hamp,
! Moore, Doc -Gallinger and ReedJ
Smoot have had all Of the noise pro
ducing proclivities Of safe and san'
| fire cracker. Be that as it may. ManI
| has remained manfully on the Joi
and, it must be confessed, has MADE
| it a trifie uncomfortable for such ant
sundry colleagues as have desired Z
quit, for brief period at least, tn
strenuous environs of Washington an
linger for some weeks in the
congenial atmosphere Of their rhom
towns.
But this is all predatory to %
main plot which thickers considSrabl
during the past two or three weeks
When the tariff bill was finally passe
and properly signed by the speaker
there was one grand hegira OF coz
- f<~ kkosr ho~~a. ThAx, hrf