The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1913-08-26
Reform Moves On
lArtlcle in The Oommoner signed
by W. j. Brya1.l

are moving on, slowly but steadily,
and with certainty of triumph. The
tariff bill as It passed the house was
splendid measure-the best that the
country has ever seen since the war.
It gives more relief to the taxpayers
than any previous democratic meas
ure would have given. This, how
ever, is only natural, because tariff
bills, like other bills, reflect public
sentiment, and public sentiment to-
day is ready for more radical re-
ductIon than would have been posei
BILE thirty, twenty. or even ten. years
ago.
But the senate, instead of emasou-
latiug the bill. as previous senates
have done, has actually improved It,
and, it is be&er than when 1t passed
the house. o Ms difficult to over
state the y, ich the democratic |
man1er q, differences have |
been bar ~ Ia the entire PAL
ty brougl Import of the bill.
Il is sur@o on final passage
not more\E democratic sena-
tors will OPPOSE the bill, aud 1t will
not be surprising 4, when the roll is
called, even she senators from Lodis'
lana vote AYE" on the theory that,
taken rs a whole, the bill will bring
more benefits to their constituents by
the reduction made. than free sugar
can do harm.
While the democrats OF the senate
and house have done their duty man
fully, the president deserves large
amount Of creditsfor the hrm stand
he has taken Ia favor Of a reduction
that will be substantial and far.
reaching In it's effects. Tie country
ls beginning to realize what 1t means
to have a peoples presideut-a cham
pion In the White House who has
courage to aght their battles for
them, and who knows not the word
surrender. "
The currency bill is not as far ad-
vanoed as the tariff bill, but 1t is
steadily gaining ground. The meas
ure favored by the president Is under
consideration In both houses and
there is now little doubt Of it's pass
age. In fact, 1t is likely to have a
larger majority Ia both houses than
the tariff bill. The tariff measure
must rely largely upon democratic
votes for its success because It is
more purely party issue; but party
lines are likely to be disregarded to
some extent IN the vote upon the
currency question; the bill will gain
more republicans than It loses demo
Gratis.
Let the readers Of The Commoner
keep In mind th.ee things:
Flrst-The bill recognizes the SOW
ereign right of the government to is
sue money.
Second-The bill provides that the
people. through their governmental
agents, shall regulate the issue Of the
currency provided for.
Thlrd-The bill extends to state
and national banks alike the help
which the federal government offers
IN times OF emelg enoy.
II the details Of the bill can be re
garded as foothills, these three provi-
sions stand out like mountain peaks.
II the people can secure the three sd
vantpges named above. they can af-
ford to accept any details that ma
jority of the senate aud house may
write Into the bill. A detail can be
changed when experience shows Il to
besuuwise, but q change In a funda-
mental principle Is more difficult.
/ The more this bill is studied the
more widespread will be the feeling
that never since the civil war have
the people In general been so largely
considered IN tue framing Of q money
measure.
And to the president must be the
thanks for having thrown the tremen
dous weight Of bis influence on tbs
peoples side. Il Is probable that the
fact that be is an eastern man has en-
abled him to do more than q western
or southern man could have done IN
der the same circumstances. The
Wall street crowd ls not able to ex
cite the same fear of him that 1t bal
successfully endeavored to arous'
against those who live beyond thu
Ahegbenies and south Of the Poto
mac.
Let as rejoice that times. condi
lions and circumstances are combin
ing to strengthen the president 10 hi
. light aud to offer new hope to thos