The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-15
SENATE DEMOCRATS
TO OUTLINE PLANS
.----------4
With Senator Culberson as Lead
er, Minority May Weld
Influence.
coRTELYou MEN UP IN AIR
subordinates OF Aspiring secre-
tary Uncertain OF Course.
Opening Month Wasted.
CoRTELYou MEN UP IN AIR
Times-Dispatch Bureau.

Timex DISPATCH Bureau.
AIunsey Building,
Washington, D. c.. Dec. "a.
Tie Democratic steering committee
Of the Senate will dine with Senator
| Newlands, member OF the committee.
tomorrow. The primary object of the
dinner is to afford opportunity for the
Senate minority to discuss lines OF pol
matter of advocating and opposing leg
islation. The minority OF the Senate
has already shown that, under the
leadership OF Senator Culbcrson, It will
be heard from before the session ter
inmates.
Senator Cuiberson is termed con-
servative by the radicals and radical
| by the conservatives. He manages to
keep In the safe middle way always
ready to advance when necessity indi-
Gates. but careful not to get so far
ahead his party cannot follow. 1t is
believed, and events since his selection
to lead the minority have gone to show
that the party acted with eminent Wis
dom In putting forward such a capita In.
1T has already been demonstrated by
Senator Cuberson that he means to
pursue course In the Senate which
will compel the respect of the majority,
by the Republicans will in several In
stances be outlined by the Democrats
The Democrats OF the Senate led in
expressions Of disapproval of the action
of Secretary Garfield. OF the Interior
Department. this week In sending to
the Senate a draft OF bill to be In.
produced. without having first been re-
qnested. to do So Senator AldrIch and
other Republican Senators coincide In
disapproval.
Has Them Up in Air.
The absolute confusion which exists
among Treasury Department officials
for the presidential nomination is
amusing. They know that they should
be for Mr.. Cortelyou. their chief, but
doubt as to whether he will be q can
didate by the time Mr.. Roosevelt is
through with him. causes them to hes
itate to shout. 1t is believed that ri
the President should make it much
palmer that he is for the nomination
of Secretary Taft. and continue to APP
point to Federal positions men who
are advocating the nomination OF Sec
rotary Taft. and otherwise exercise his
influence to bring about the Taft NOM
nation, MIR. slCortelyou will perforce
give UP the contest for the honor. mi
such case there is no doubt the Treas
ury people would begin hurrahing for
Taft
President that has made possible any
talk about nominating Secretary Cor
telyou. With the country absolutely
| assured that the support OF the ad-
| ministration is being extended to Sec
rotary Taft the Cortelyouibo would
perish in a night. ssF egs9 %
An Easy Mark.
Every act which has brought Mr..
Cortelyou into sufficient prominence
to cause hint be mentioned as a
presidential possibility would be a
count In the Indictment which the
Democratic party would draw against
him." said an official Of the Treasury
Department to-day. Yet, this man adj
| mits in private conversation that he
| does not know whether he Is for Cor
| telyou or Taft He is just as frank to
| admit. privately, that he Is Taft
| man at heart, but he claims that his
his supporting another candidate so
| long as the chief wants the prize.
I Although the stories In circulation
| to the effect that Secretary Cortelyuu
| will probably resign from the Cabinet
are emphatically denied by the Secre-
| tary himself. 1t Is regarded as prac-
Aticaily certain that either he or Sec
4he Cabinet. 1t Is still believed both
| will give up their portfolios at an
early date.
Weeks Thut Arc Wasted.
| The unwisdom of having Congress
! convene month before the Christmas
holidays is again demonstrated. Ad-
| journment Is expected Thursday until
the 9th of January. Members have
been here since the first Monday in
this month They had as well have
been at home for all that has been
accomplished. 1t is understood that
the Speaker Will announce members
4 of the standing committees on Monday.
lit was impossible to accomplish any
Legislation until the committees We're
appointed. But 1t would have been an
4 easy matter for the Speaker and the