Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-03-04

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course.
1t was said at the time that Mr.. Bor-
ali declined to stand with other pro
pressive Republicans in favor Of an
extraordinary convention OF the Re
publican party to regulate southern
representation and TO do other things
in an attempt to appease the men who
left the party, because he thought that
such convention would be dominated
largely by men who dominated the
Taft convention in 1912.
WIN He Join Prosressives7
Recently when Champ Clark In q
speech at Baltimore prophesied that
Borah would be the nominee OF the
Republican party for the presidency
in 1916, the Idaho man replied by re-
pudiating all suggestion OF ambition.
and by saying certain fine things
about the great leader of the Progress
i've party which made it appear to
some persons that he had high hope
that the Republicans would find some
means of endorsing Theodore Roose-
welt for the presidency. While the
senator may have had nothing in
mind except the amalsaElation of the
Republican and the Progressive par
ties, there was that in what he said
which for some reason or other had
made the Progressive leaders believe
1t is within the range of possibilities
that ere long there will be a new
recruit fully enlisted in the ranks of
the new party. Are they right?
The tProgressives In Washington.
while apparently hopeful that Mr..
Borah eventually will join their ranks.
are somewhat disappointed because in
his recent speech he did not come out
squarely and sharply in favor of kick
ing the bosses out of the Republican
party. Mr.. Borah said the ranks must
rule, but the Progressives say he
should have called the bosses by name
and have declared their departure
from the party was an absolute neces-
sity before any thought of amalgama-
ton could be entertained.
In his speech before the New York
Republican club Mr.. Borah, however,
said most significant thing, 1t did
not stand out as paragraph By itself.
1t was wedged in between material of
much less political moment The Pro
gressive leaders in Washington today
are reading and rereading these words
of Borah:
IF the Republican voters are not
progressive in the true sound sense
of the term, then the way for some of
US is clear"
Ovens Stock Exchange Bill.
1t seems likely now that congress
will decline this winter at least to
pass the bill introduced by Senator
Owen of Oklahoma and known by
this title: "A Bill to Prevent the
Use of the Mails and of the Telegraph
and Telephone in F'urtherance OF
Fraudulent and Harmful Transac.
tons Of Stock Exchanges"
This measure stands in danger of
postponement if NOT 5sfaSt because ia
its present form a good many mem
bers Of congress, many of them in the
ranks of Mr.. Owens own political
party, seem to think that It should be
materially before given a
chance for passage.
This stock exchange legislative en-
deavor of Mr.. Owen. the Democrats
seem to believe, is not an administra-
tive measure, and it is even said that
Mr.. Owen has not asked Mr.. Wilson
for his approval of this legislative OF
spring Of his skill Some of the Demo
Gratis are asking if Mr.. Owen is afraid
of having his request for approval de-
MED in way that would probably kill
the bill before 1t is given even a
chance for its life in the house and
senate. The title of the measure is
one which would make it appear that
what Mr.. Owen seeks today is worthy.
There is no doubt. of course. that the
senator has worthy motives.
Endangers Freedom of Press7
That which is of the sharpest inter
est in this matter to persons who have
no dealings with stock exchanges is
the charge made by members of con-
gress irrespective Of political parties
that in a great degree it would en-
danger the liberties of the press Of the
country. If the bill should happen to
go through as 1t is at present drawn.
it is charged that Postmaster General
Burleson would have given him pow
ers of censorship as great as those
given to military authorities in time
Of war Some members say that as
they understand the bill it seems to
them if it became a law 1t would be
to mail any letter, package.
circular, pamphlet, postcard, newspa-
per or any other form of printed or
written statement concerning trans
actions and securities sold or offered
for sale by an unincorporated stock
exchange.
The postmaster general. under the
provisions of the bill, the men. who
have studied it say. is made the Judge
Of violations of the law, and the OPP
of the measure declare that If
1t were to be enforced as its language
intends that it shall be.
Mr.. Burleson not only win be the
busiest man in the United States. but
the most powerful. Senator Hitch
cock of Nebraska. a Democrat like Mr.
Owen, who is the father of the bill, has
said that the measure, if enacted into
aw. will put an end to the freedom of
he press of the United States