The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-10
HAVE KEPT THE FAITH.

Whatever criticism may be made OF the Tn
derwood BILL passed by the Democratic house
by an overwhelming majority with but hvesDe-
rocrats voting in opposition ii is conceded by
practically everyone that 1t is the fruition OF an
honest attempt to redeem pledges made by the
Democratic party to the country
Should the party be defeated at the polls in
1914 as Republicans like to predict it will be
because the people have changed their minds on
the question of tariff reduction and not because
the Democrats have not kept their promise TO
them The people demanded reduction OF duties,
the Deuocatic party only OF the three promised
such reduction and the Democratic party was
placed in power In election held in strong
4 Republican district in Massachusetts, while the
Underwood bill was under consideration in the
house, Democrat, making his compaign on the
issue of the passage defeat of that bill. was
elected by large majority over his Republican
opponent This removed all lingering doubt of
the attitude of the people toward the bill and
greatly strengthened the hands of Majority
Leader Underwood. The bill has been passed by
i the house and now goes to the senate. II should
be passed there Whether endorsement or re-
pudiation awaits the party responsible at the polls
III 1914 the party can do no less than complete
the work so we'll begun by the house 1t is under
orders to reduce the tariff and reduce the tariff
IL must.
That only five Democrats voted against the bill
Is cause for congratulation. Although seven Re-
pubicans and Bull Moosers voted for 1t the
Underwood bill is Democratic measure, pre-
pared by Democrats and put through by Demo
cratic votes To the Democratic party goes the
credit or upon the Democratic party falls the
blame For one The virginian is more than will
irg for the party to assume all responsibility as
IL must The Underwood bill is the embodiment
OF Democratic principles far as those principles
could be embodied in one measure at this time
and under present conditions and the Democratic
party is willing to stand fall by the result.
The reasons for the vote of the four Louisi-
ana Democrats against the measure are not hard
to find They voted as they believe the interests
of their State required, although in the opinion
of the vast majority OF their party they believed
wrong They probably represented their con
stituents If they did not represent the senti-
ment OF the country and If they did place them
selves in the anomalous position of calling them
selves Democrats while holding fast to the car
dinal principle Of the Republican party. The
motives which inspired the Democrat from New
York In voting against his party are not so clear
Doubtless they are satisfactory to him and others
can only congratulate themselves that the rea-
soning that appealed to him appealed to none of
the hundreds OF his colleagues.
In the fight which waged for four weeks OF
cor liberation Of the BILL man stands head
IA shoulders above all others. That man is
oscar Underwood The passage of the bill was
not only triumph for the majority party but
q personal triumph for Underwood. The leader
Of the opposition does not emerge from the bat
tic with so much credit Representative Mann has
won fairly the professional name Of THE Suf
fragette Of the Political Situation" His action
Wednesday in the house. is forcing delay OF a
day in the final vote on the Underwood bill. was
as childish hit of malice interruption of
the proceedings Of the house of commons or
pouring rnolasses in a mail box. All he really
achieved by demanding the reading of the enroll
ed bin was to spoil the pleasure of some people
in the galleries who wished to be able to say
that they were present when the final vote
taken on the most important legislative measure
Of thirty years This can hardly be applauded
even by the most faithful Republican claque a
superb demonstration of craftsmanship.
But in spite Of the antics OF Mr. Mann and
the linguistic gyrations of Bull Moose Murdoch
the bill has now passed the house. Two hundred
and seventyfour Democrats have kept the faith.
The completion of tire work is now up to ifty-one
Democrats in the senate.