Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-20
Democrats in House and Senate
Founder, With No One i'll
Control
TWO LEADERS ARE SOUGHT
De Almond and Bacon Considered Best
Men in Sight, But Neither May Be
Chosen for Leadership-John Sharp
Williams Found Wantins-condi
tons Worse in Senate Than House.

Washington, Feb. 2o.-The demo-
Gratis in congress both in the house and
senate are in bad way for lack Of
competent leadership. The party Is all
at skies and sevens. Individual aspir-
atoms and jealousies have split up the
southern members OF both houses until
it seems as II they could not be In
duced to pull together.
There is nothing particular in the
national situation which ought to split
up the democratic party, but it 10 a
fact none the less that there is no real
leader either in the house or senate.
John Sharp Williams is the nominal
floor leader OF the democracy in the
house Of representatives, but his au--
thority as such is confused and meager.
and he will have to fight for his place
in the next house. with the chances
against him.
Joe Blackburn of Kentucky Is the
caucus leader Of the party in the sem
ate, but he is a gentle boss, If ever
there was one, and he holds his place
largely, 1t not entiraly, because OF his
splendid good fellowship. He retires
from the senate next month, and then
there will be a battle royal.
The mantle which fell from the dead
Germans shoulders has descended
upon no senatorial shoulders as yet,
and there is no one democrat in the
upper house OF congress who Is head
and shoulders above his colleagues, or
who would claim the. place, as matter
OF right. Thus it happens that the
democrats will face a. serious condition
next winter, because they will have to
begin the congressional session just
preceding the pre- sidential canvass
with untried leaders.
Is Over OH the house side of the capitol
the situation is particularly uncor1-
Portable for the democrats. John Sharp
Williams is the recognized minority
leader, but he has not made anything
like 8 complete success Of his position.
He is moi. a natural leader at all. He
lacks that force Of character and en-
ithusiasrn which Is SO necessary for
the control OF a large body Of educated
men.
Representative Williams Is a student
and doctrinaire. lie is rabid free
trader, whereas most OF the progressive
southern democrats today are protec-
stionistss thru and Thru
The Mississippi statesman has one
great physical infirmity in that he is
seriously deaf. This interferes to a
great extent with his ability as foor
leader, and in addition to that he has
a voice which cannot be heard In the
house unless there is almost perfect
stiffness on both sides Of the cham
be..
4 YeA with it all, Williams is one OF
the best representatives of the high
grade southern democracy to which he
belongs. He is the exact antithesis OF
Governor vardamar!. who represents
all that is radical and venomous In
the southern political system today. He
would make good president, an ex-
cellent senator, and almost anything
else except floor leader.
IS 1t is hardly any wonder under the
circumstances that the more progress
sive element among the house demo-
Gratis has for long time been opposcs%
to Williams. They combined once up
on Champ Clark Of, Missouri and se-
cured enough signatures to make him
the democratic leader In the next
house. At the last moment Clark, who
is 4 personal friend OF the Mississippi
leader, declined to make the race. Inc
democratic insurgents were up in the
air for a candidate for awhile but hnal-
~ they agreed upon David A. De Ar
mond Of Missouri. He has agreed to
make the race, and at the present time
he probably has more pledged votes TO
his credit than Williams.
Mr. De Almond Is one OF the best
men in the house Tor the position OF
leader. He unquestionably the most
forcible. the most resolute. and the
most ready debater on the democratic
side. He is an excellent parliament
tartan. and il he should ever reach the
speakers chair his decisions would be
certain to command respect. As 1t is!
now in general debate, when De Ar
mond rises, the republicans generally
remain in their Seats long enough to
listen to him, because they know he is
certain to make a good argument. He
probably has discounted the republic
cans more than any other man on the
democratic side, and frequently has
exposed defects in prospective legis-
lation in such a way as to require their
immediate correction.
De Almond is Just concluding his
seventh term in congress. He is 60
years old, has strong, rasping voice,
and is possessed Of tireless energy and
activity. His candidacy for the posi-
ton OF speaker as the democratic NOM
inee has aroused e. great deal of en-
thusiasm among the members of his
own party. None Of them is entirely
satisfied with John Sharp Williams
committee assignments. Moreover,
there Is growing belief that the dem
ocratic leader ought to come after all
from doubtful state, because he is ex-
pected to define ttte issues which are
to be made. It Is evident that man
from the far south cannot have clear
conception of the trend OF political
opinion in doubtful border states like
Missouri, Kentucky or Maryland, and
still less of the possibilities OF reach
ing the public heart in New York and
Indiana.
In the senate the 1nixup is even
worse than in the house. The demo-
cratic minority In the senate has now
dwindled to point where 1t can be
almost ignored by the republicans. The
latter will have tw,o-thirds of the next
senate and thus will be enabled to
-, Aeno and ornoin