Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-09-12
GONE OVER TO the ENEMY.

The Senate of the United States,
on Thursday last, finally passed the
Underwood tariff bill, which now
goes to conference between the two
Houses of Congress and will in the
course of another two weeks become
the law of the land.
The vote on the final passage in
the Senate was as follows:
For the bill, AZ Democrats and
Senator LaFolleSte, of Wisconsin,
Republican, and Senator Poindex-
ter, of Washington, Progressive
total, A.
Against the bill, 35 Republicans,
and Senators ]. Z. Ransdel1
and j. II. Thornton, Of
Louisiana, elected as Democrats.
President Wilson issued the fol-
lowing statement when the bill was
passed: "A fight for the people and
for free business which has lasted
a long generation through has at
last been won, handsomely and COM
pletely. A leadership and steadfast-
ness in counsel has been shown in
both Houses, Of which the Demo-
cratic party has reason to be very
proud. There has been no weak
ness or confusion or drawing back,
but statesmanlike directness and
command of circumstances. l am
happy to have been connected with
the government Of the nation at a
time when such things could hap
pen and TO have worked in associa-
ton with men who could do them. "
Democrats in Louisiana who have
looked forward for 80 many years
TO Democratic victory because they
felt that the right to liberty, happi-
ness and prosperity to the individ'
ual American was threatened, nay
actually encroached on by Republi
can legislation, particularly the mon
strous tariff laws enacted by tha'
party, may well ask where stood
our Senators when the fight TO
the people," described by the Pres
ident was fought and won. Elected
as Democrats, knowing that the fu
ture of the Democratic party, ma.
its very existence, depended on car
rying out its pledges to the people
chief among which was the passag
Of a tariff bill lowering taxation
, Senators Ransdell and Thornton
have deliberately turned their back
on a Democratic President, and OF
every leader in the party to whicl
they profess allegiance. They hay
contemptuously turned their back
ON the people themselves and, goin
over in the thick Of the battle to tn
enemy, have the proud distinction
of enrolling themselves with thos
champions of privilege, the defeate
and Inundated Republican party
which, moribund and despairing
still bears aloft the black flag OF pi
ratical tariff taxation, and who's
motto still is: Damn the people.
Senator Thornton is at the end c
his political career, 80 his actio
can have no effect on his future
As 70 what effect his course ma
have upon the future OF Senate
Ransdell we have no means of judl
n ing. He has gone over body, boo
and breeches' to the sugar plante1
and there is no disputing the fa'
that the political strength OF II
State lies in South Louisiana. Thu
he has alienated all. his friends
North Louisiana is, we think, ce
tain, but it cannot be that the Sci
ator has not taken that phase OF II
situation into account. 1t may
that realizing the strength Of Il
sugar vote he has crooked the pre-
nant hinges of the knee, that thru
may follow fawning."
At any rate his constituency no
knows exactly where Jos. K. Ran
dell stands politically, and there nj
come about a clearing in the polit
cal atmosphere which shall, we hop
be productive of good results in Il
frtura