Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1906 — POLITICAL COMMENT [ARTICLE]

POLITICAL COMMENT

Record lit a Greal Congrewi. ~ Except in the first Congress of the rebellion days, that which met under Lincoln's call on July 4, 1861, no session qf any Cohgress since that which opened at Washington’s inauguration in 1789 placed so many measures of important* . leglslation on the statute book as did the session which ended recently. It established railway rate regulation under the interstate commerce commission'; provided for pure food and also for meat Inspection, both under rigid governmental surveillance; passed a free alcohol act, under which the country will he bene- | sited to the extent of tens of millions of dollars a year; decided on the type of canal which is to be built at the isthmus, and thus cleared the way for the beginning of the active constructive work, which is to start lu a week or two; gave the finishing touches to the solution of the Indian problem, which, in one phase and another, has bothered the country since Washington's days, and provided for two new States, which will transform the last of the territory of the contiguous part of the United l States into self-governing communities. This roll call of the principal measures which were written into the statutes between the first Monday of December, 1905, and the last Saturday of June, 1906, tells a great story of the earnestness and intelligence of the President practical balance and sanity of Congress. President and Congress were -enabled to make this inspiring record because the great body of the American people incited them to their work. Contests between the President and one or the other or both branches of Congress occurred during (he Session. The House often found Itself arrayed against the Senate. Some of the members of the President’s- party, with the hope of humiliating him and of- discrediting a measure which ho championed early and enthusiastically, placed it in charge of a Democrat who was peculiarly objectionable to the President and to the majority of his party. But all this strife, in Its changing phases and shifting groupings, was quickly ended, aud most of the measures of vital concern to the country were transmuted into laws. The Santo Domingo and the Algeciras treaties go over to next December, in the short session. The Philippine tariff bill was unacted on in the Senate and the shipping bill was not taken up in the House, these measures, in each ease, having passed the other branch. Federal regulation of insurance, which the President urged, and for which a bill was introduced in the Senate by Mr. Drydeu, the head of a great insurance company, was decided against in committee in each branch of Congress. The leading lawyers of Senate and House declared -that'supervision on the lines urged by the President, by Senator Dryden and by many members of each branch, would be contrary to the constitution. That probably ends ail attempts to regulate insurance by federal laiv and relegates the whole question to the States, several of which, including New Y’ork, have already enacted laws to deal with some of the abuses in the Insurance business which have recently been developed. Probably the Santo Domingo and Algeeiras treaties will be ratified by the Senate th the coming-session. Senator Lodge and other friends of Philippine tariff reduction believe that their chamber will pass the House bill next winter. Some of the shipping bill’s advocates say that measure is sure to receive the sanction of the House in the coming session. But, while regretting the failure of some of these measures, the country recognizes that Congress did a work notably great in its extent and Its value. In many measures issues not previously touched upon by Congress were dealt with. New paths had to be blazed in several directions. Gordian knots, which were found to be too complicated to be untied, were cut. Some of the work which was done is, in some degree, experimental. New departures had to be made, and it is possible that, In one or two instances, stops may have to be retraced or starts made in a little different direction. This is a possibility which always presents Itself when new paths are marked out But for any new contingency which may present itself the country will be prepared. The poise and the sanity which have written themselves into the work of the past few months will lie able to undo, to extend or to modify any part of it if experience steps in to dictate a change. In the annals ofThe country’s development in the opening years of the" century, the work of the first sessidh of the Fifty-ninth Congress will hold a conspicuous place.—St Louis G lobe-Democrn t.

Democrats Wild for Bryan. The Demoorats of the country are preparing to go wild over William Jennings Bryan. Every leading Democrat in the country, excepting Grover Cleveland, Is now for Bryan. Henry Watterson Is in line, ex-Governor Francis of Missouri is the “original Bryan mau” at the present time. At the Indiana 1 Democratic convention a Bryan picture was unveiled and the Democrats shouted themselves hoarse. Colonel Bryan will undoubtedly be the Democratic nominee in 1908. The issue will be the tariff. Bryan was elected to Congress, the first time, on the tariff teann His first fame came aa the re-

suit of a great free-trade -Speech which he made in Congress. He captured his associate Democrats and they bore him in triumph out of the tlou.se on their shoulders. It is believed that Bryan wilt, not talk about tbe money question in 1908, but will attempt to charge the tariff with being responsible for all Hliie' ,n trusts, 'combinca and monopolies then in existence. Bryan is so smart that he will be able to make a wonderful campaign in fuvor of cutting down the import duties for the purpose of introducing foreign competition. Possibly the year 1908 will see the breakup of the old parties. Possibly every tariff reform Republican in the Northwest may vote for Bryan as against the protectionist who will be named by the Republicans. It is already evident that the Republican nominee in 1908 must stand for protection and the prosperity which protection has brought If all the Republicans in lowa who. believe in reducing the tariff should join with JbgHJryan Democrats, Bryanwould carry the they do it? Time alone will tell.- —Des Yloines Capital. —1.::.!..; :.. Tr .;. r-vr--- <

The New State or Oklahoma. No sooner had Congress passed the enabling act, admitting Oklahoma and Indian Territory to the Union as one State, than poets began singing songs of the new member of the Sisterhood of States. But while the warblings of the poets are more or less interesting, Oklahoma can point to something in the way of facts and figures to show that she is entitled to Uncle Sam’s blessing. It has been only seventeen years since Oklahoma Territory was opened for settlement, but to-day its population numbers 700,000 nr more. The combined population of Oklahoma and Indian Territory.is estimated at 1,350,-

braska, South Carolina or Maryland. The census of 1900 gives Indian Territory’s population as composed of 302,(580 whites, 52,500 Indians, and 30,853 negroes. The new State will have an area of 70,230 square miles. It will be larger than Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, lowa or Wisconsin. Oklahoma is figuring on a 30,000,000 bushel wheat crop this year, which is now being harvested. It is also rich in mineral deposits. From the coal beds of Indian Territory more than 2,000,000 bushels were mined last year, aud it also has natural gas and oil deposits. The new State will be rich In salt, granite, asphalt, gypsum, lead and zinc. To transport the products of the State there are railroads with a main trackage of 5,000 miles. The State’s taxable property is valued at $800,000,009, while the Indians own many thousands of acres of land that are at present exempt from taxation.

The new State M ill send tM’O Senators aud five members of the House of Representatives to Congress. It is believed of the five members of the House Mill be Republicans, and if Is possible that the tM’o Senators will be of the same political complexion. All things taken into consideration, this neM r member of the Union seems destined to become a great State.—Toledo Blade.

Farmers Are Bcneflclnrles. Among -farmers one dees hot hear the demand for tariff revision that was heard the last time there was an agitation for reduction of tariff. That was in IS9ffHB92. The Farmers’ Alliance at that time voiced the demand and politicians took up the cry for the purpose of riding into office on the crest of the popular M - ave. The result was that there was a change and the farmer got the worst of the deal. At this time the politicians lead the demand for revision. They must have an issue and have to fan life into the old revision idea, thinking that the farmers will tumble all over themselves for the benefit of the politicians. But they don’t enthuse very hard. Of course, a Democratic farmer enthuses, but he does it because of his party principles. Republican farmers recognize that they are the beneficiaries of the sound economic system maintained by the Republican party.—Slayton (Minn.) Gazette.

Ten Tears Ago. Thanks to Providence and the protective tariff on wool, the New Mexican sheep growers are so far enjoy lug the best season ever had In the history of that Industry’ In the territory. Properly translated this means that they should be grateful to Providence and the Republican party of the nation. Lest they forget, the New Mexican desires to call to their minds that ten years ago ewes sold for from $1.25 to ’51.75 per head; lambs from 75 cents to $1 i>er head, and wool at from 7 to 9 cents per pound In sunny New Mexico, while during 1905 and 100 G, under Republican administration and with favorable natural conditions, ewes wers sold and are selling at from $4 to $5 eacfel lambs brought and bring from $2.50 to $3 per head, and wool ranged and ranges from 19 cents to 24 cent? per pound, according to grade. In 1890 Grover Cleveland was President—Albuquerque Citizen. More candy is consumed in Philadelphia, New York and Chicago than la the whole of Franca