Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-05-20
Democrats Alarmed By
Narrow Margin in Senate,
And Rising Rumble Of National
Indignation at Tariff SIashing.
Gone Too Far and May Be Over.
thrown In the Senate.

Washington, d. c., May f9.-{Spe
ciaD-Look, no, To the Senate
Things are actually perking'' up Il
that honorable body. Republicans
there are outstanding men. Wher
the Underwood tariff bill, from tnt
House, showed itself within the doors
said Republicans fell upon ii viii
violence. Democratic senators were
amazed at the momentum of the on
slaught There followed the liveliesi
week Of give and take in the history
of this or the last Congress.
And who said the Republicans were
without life or hope? Let him sean
the output of that week of determined
debating. Let Him read in that gov
eminent paper, which alone prints
Congressional speeches in full, how
Boies Penrose. of Pennsylvania, OK
chairman of ways and means, stood
forth 1t was cheering To Repubii-
can souls to hear the man from
Pennsylvania With fine tact and
Infinite zest he babe the new Demo-
cratic chairman, Furnifold Simmons
of North Carolina. come out and de-
fend his record, he VINO voted for n
tariff law
The match was an unequal one.
The Honorable Furnifold Simmons
has not the capacity for heavy artil.
lery work. which is the great gift Of
the Honorable Penrose. Democrats
squirmed in their seats as the unwel-
come duel progressed. They could not
put another champion forward and
simply had to sit in silence. while the
big Boies swallowed the little Furni-
fold. 1t will not be allowed again.
The wise Democratic men will put
forward another hereafter, when the
debating gets hot. Senator Hoke
Smith Is now the one who stands in
behind when an aggressive Republic
can steps out and swings a duke" III
the North Carolinian's direction.
The Honorable Heke is as massive
in avoirdupois az the Honorable
Boies. He handles himself.weli upon
his feet even though not so we'll
equipped for combat The Democrats
have been made to realize that they
have no child's task upon their hands.
But there We're other features of
the scrimmage. Much to.Democratie
chagrin, Senator Ransdell of Louis
lana, walked out into the open and
began to rain blows upon his coll
leagues. Louisiana, Democratic SOL
idly in her representation in both
branches of Congress, is tremendous
ly stirred because of the free sugar
program Free sugar. even after
three years, would kill great indus
try there Louisianans have inn
piored the President in vain. Senator
Ransdell went to the White House
Offices with plain words He is o
man of modest demeanor but he
spoke to the President with great
vieor. Meeting with no success
there, he. waged his plant before the
Senate.
One of his opening blows was a
virulent letter on the sugar situation
from Michigan man. 1t was as
vigorous a bit of English as the Sen,
ate has heard in many days. II
called things by their right names
Democratic senators grumbled at the
production of such a communication,
They tried to stop the reading there
of but Senators RansdeH wqSs deter
mined. He would read It hshiselfsk
it could not be read otherwise. and
into the Congressional Record it went
bodily This cheered not alone the
Republican senators TO see one of the
majority party SO outspoken. 1t was
known all along, of course. that the
Louisiana senators would vote with
Republicans on the tariff. They al
ways do But it was not expected
they would carry their fight on with
such determination at the very
threshold of tariff consideration in the
Senate.
Mr.. Ransdell travelled much far
Their He went after the Democrats
for violating the promises of their
Baltimore platform. This was one
of the bitterest pills the Democratic
Senate had to swallow. 1t was
promised in that platform that nc
legitimate industry would be unduly
disturbed and tariff changes We're &c
be made gradually. Campaign
speeches by President Wilson were
quoted in like vein and these refer.
ences are being used not alone as te
heavy cuts In sugar duties but alike
upon other important industries.
Ollie James, the massive Kentuckian
who was chairman Of the Baltimor
convention--the permanent chairman
now has seat in the Senate. Senate
Ransdell made for him in no gentl
fashion, taking him and the Democrat
ic party to task for forgetting thei
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