The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-03-18

the Baltimore platform pledged the
party. to which the spirit of progress
sfye Democracy lends itself willingly.
Complexion OF the Houses.
II does not seem likely that In the
house OF representatives the new pres
ident viii be obliged to depend upon
any support outside OF his own party
to secure sanction for any legislation
which he may care to recommend, pro
vided of course It is within the realm
OF party sanity. The house of repre-
sentatives. certainly so far as the Dem
cratic majority is concerned, is more
conservative today than it has been
for long time, but the conservative
ones are conservatives on their own
account for tie main part. and not on
account OF their constituents. There
are dozens of Democratic members Of
the lower branch, conservative in
| thought. who represent progressive
constituencies. Regard for their con-
stituents and for the future probably
will hold most of these Democrats to
the Wilson policies.
In the senate there are more pro-
gressives. even radicals, today than
ever before in the history Of that body.
Seven years ago. and from that time
down until almost the present, con-
sentative senate viewed with alarm" q
radical house. Today a semi-conserva-
tive house is viewing, but with no ex-
preston OF alarm, a progressive and
perhaps radical senate. The change
has been unexpected. but 1t has come
and 1t Is marked.
In the next house OF Representatives
conservative Republicans will form a
small minority of the membership.
There will not be many more OF them
than there are OF the progressive
minded ones Of their own party. On
many OF the Wilson policies the Pro
gressives and the progressive Repub-
licans can be accounted as part of the
Democracy.
Prosresslves Forming Program.
The Progressives, of whom there
will be nineteen or twenty members in
the next house, have not yet complet-
er their legislative program. although
upon and have been given in these dis
patches before this time. 1t seems to
be assured today that the one line of
Progressive and progressive Republi-
can endeavor which will run sharply
counter to the endeavor Of the progress
sive Democrats, and of the administra-
ton as well, is one which runs into
the field of child labor legislation.
AS for the resi- OF the legislation. the
progressive Republicans and the Pro
gressives will wait to see what it is
that Mr.. Wilson is to recommend
That they will support him II his
views are as their views is certain.
Sundry Civil Bill Annoys.
As soon as congress gets to-
gether again it must repass the |
sundy civil bill which failed to be-
come a law because Mr.. Taft chose /
to veto it. The house of representa-
tives, as will be remembered, voted to
pass the bill over the veto, but as
1T reached the senate only few mo-
ments before final adjournment, no
action was taken on it, and it died
death. The senate meeting thereafter
in extra session, could not pass upon
the bill because 1t was an act of the
last congress-
The sun Try civil bill is just what its
name implies. 1t includes appropria-
tons for vari0u, expenditures of gov
eminent which come Idnder the head
Of sundries, and among its provisions
are appropriations for special work
N some of the departments. Mr. Taft
vetoed tie bill because it contained
l provision tr the effect that no part
D. sum '-oted to aid in prosecutions
lnder the antitrust law should be
lsed to prosecute labor organizations
-rying to combine for the purpose of
lettering working conditions or for
ais1ng wages, and also a provision
which estopped the use of the appro-
)riation to prosecute certain agricul-
ural combinations intended to get
proper prices for commodities. Mr..
Taft said it was class legislation and
ought not to pass
Awkward for Congressman.
The sundry civil bin matter which
he next congress must take up, hav-
ng in it the labor proviso named, &C
.entuates once more the difficulties
which legislative bodies have in
Iealing with the labor question. In
England labor is looked upon as a
class" and so class legislation there
$ not regarded as anything out of the
rdinary. In America there are not
imposed to be classes" and so 1t
8 that, in the view of a good many
tudents of the Constitution and of
economies generally, labor organiza-
ions stand where organizations of
apital stand. 1t Is a crucial sort of
question and one if 1t were debated t
thoroughly in house ard senate, would t
ut many members in awkward DO
itions t
No one knows whether or not the I
revision to which Mr. Taft objected t
ill be inserted in the sundry civil bill v
s 1t is to be redrawn. 1t is appar-