Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-08-30

representatives who have objected,
kicked and plunged in revolt but
finally have permitted themselves to
be bound and hog-tied against the
promptings of their own inclinations
and consciences. With many misgiv-
ings and wry faces, many senators
have aided in defeating amendments
to the tariff bill which they have
privately admitted were right, just
and proper and would have made 1t
q more righteous measure.
The tariff bill, be 1t understood, is
not merely a matter of free list and
duties. 1t repeats the corporation
tax, establishes an income tax,
changes the revenue laws, revolu-
tonnes many laws and customs and.
gives different meanings and inter-
pretations to many laws and even to
constitutional provisions. In many
of these matters there is no division
along partisan lines, and Progress
sive senator's who revolted and bolted
from the Taft and Aldrich rule, de-
nouneing it's own party for its per-
fidy and dishonor, have begged that
the majority permit them to aid In
lettering the bill now before the SEN
ate, and begged without success, not
that their views are not respected
or that their proposals have been
deemed unworthy, but only because
the edict had gone forth that the
caucus must be supreme in every line
and word in the bill.
Free Debate Tbrottled.
So in the House, not on the parti-
san tariff questions alone, but just
now on the non-partisan questions of
lettering the currency and banking
system of the country, the caucus
has been invoked to throttle free de-
bate and elaboration, which would
not only have improved the bill but
given a valuable education to the
country on the subject.
Not only the President but William
Jennings Bryan, for a long time en-
envy and nemesis of all machines,
bosses and bossism, an upholder and
defender of independence and liberty,
has aided in silencing freedom of
speech and Stacking the individual
liberty of action at the shrine which
he so long ,worshiped.
When, a few days ago, Democratic
members were ready to fight and
bolt the caucus that they might ex-
press and vote on the floor of the
House their own convictions and the
wishes of their constituents, 1t was
Bryan who saved the day for the
administration, disrupted the threat
ened insurgency and induced Demo-
cratic congressman to submit them
selves to the will of the organization
and the administration.
Same Methods for Different Ends.
That the caucus rule and the meth
DDS of the dictator ans machine are
being used in good cause may be
true. 1t is undoubtedly true that the
country repudiated the Republicans
and Taft because they refused to pass
legislation demanded by the country,
and it is probably true that the coun-
try Is with the President in his de-
mand for the legislation he now
urges. The President Is using the
methods to get things done that Can
non and Aldrich used to prevent
things being done. That makes diff
ference.
1t Is not against the things asked
to be done that Senator Hitchcock
and others are revolving. 1t is the
method of doing them. Hitchcock and
many other public men as honest as
the President, and as progressive, OBJ
ject to dictatorship whether 1t be for
good or bad ends, and their gorge
rises as quickly against a benevolent
despotism as against the rule of a
tyrant.
Congress Becomes q Pawn.
The rigorous system of partisan
ship and caucus rule dominated by
the President, which has come in
with the present administration,
uses the caucus to enforce organiza-
ton policies to the last detail. 1t
destroys the representative nature OF
government. and makes the legisla-
tive branch a mere pawn to do the
bidding of the leader of the dominant
party. And men in power, believing
their purposes right and lofty, are
prone to drive hard and fast and fall
into ways of arrogance and tyranny.
To maintain representative govern
ment is more important at all times
than to get any reform or reforms
accomplished quickly. There Is no
short cut to good government In
democracy. When the people elect a
representative or senator they are
entitled to have him voice and vote
their wishes. If he fails to do so they
will find other representation. To