The National tribune., 1908-05-07
SENATORIAL COLTS.
The Younger SoIons Have Been Assert
ing Themselves in Great Shape.

nice Uot around the neld anu niiu
themselves back in the corral. There
are something like a dozen of them.
nearly all young orators from the West
who are convinced that they came
down to Washington, commissioned to
take the leadership of the upper legis-
lative branch of Congress. Every lit
tie while, whenever measure of some
party significance was brought up, the
colts have been capering around and
making things as troublesome as they
could, only to be reined in finally by
strong hands.
One of the spirited young colts is
Senator Borah. of Idaho, eloquent and
undoubtedly capable. He took it upon
himself to do Senator Foraker of
Ohio, who was championing the cause
of the negro soldiers discharged be-
cause of, alleged completely in the
Brownsville ARRAY. There are only
300 zoF 400 negroes in ALI Idaho. anu
accordingly Mr. Borah felt that he
could take that stand without endan-
gering the political career of himself
or OF any of his Idaho colleagues His
speech was an able arraignment OF
Senator Foraker, but none the less did
not paralyze or pulverize the ONO
Senator. The latter, on the other
IL
usual, smiling significantly when Borah
Is mentioned, and saying quietly that
he proposes to answer Borah and all
the others at the same time. He
thinks he can economic effort in that
way.
When the President pitched in for
four big battleships, the old Senate
leaders were OF the same opinion that
the House had expressed. The con-
struction of two ships would be a
plenty. 1t was all the country could
afford. The leaders secuted the talk
Lodge, the Presidents closest personal
friend in public life. But the colts
saw new opportunity and they began
to prance and caper. The President
sent for most of them and. of course.
they were not only willing, but glad to
vote for four big and expensive battle
ships. They would give the old SEN
ate leaders a dickens of a time. The
President had asked several of the
older Senators to take hold of the
cause but they declined and reluctantly
he had to ask Senator Beveridge. That
pleased Mr.. Beveridge greatly. He
makes no concealment of the fact that
he is sincerely convinced he ought to
be the leader of the Senate. He has
said so time and again, with the quaii-
fication that he supposes he will have
to wait till the older men get out of
the way.
And so the consideration OF the four
battleship amendment furnished the
colts another chance to caper around
the Senate and they kept the Senate
in debate for six days, which was
four or five days longer than there
was any real warrant for doing.
disappointed Ambitions.
The strife of the ambitious young
Senators has been going on in this
fashion for several months and it will
be kept Up, perhaps, to the end of the
session. Certain Republicans who
served IN the House of Representatives
and regard themselves, with some war
rant as veterans in the legislative STR
vice, have recently become Senate RS.
They think the Senate leaders have lot
advanced them as rapidly as should be
Or are disgruntled because others of
their House colleague have Jared bet
ter than they. For instance, Senator
Hale took up Senator Hemenway, of
Indiana. and had him given a place
on the great Appropriations Committee.
Several Senator's of that committee are
growing cid and weary of the i'm
mense amount of hard work that SER
vice en- that committee entails. They
wanted a younger man to take some of
the BURDEN Rnt he had to be a
competent and we'll trained man, or he
would have been cumbrance rather
than help. Mr.. Hemenway had been
Chairman of the House Appropriations
Committee, had been tried in appro-
priatIon work and accordingly there
seemed to be warrant for placing him
In that responsible position Senator
Burkett, of Nebraska, who was also a
member or the House Appropriations
Committee. would have liked the same
Job, but did not get it He is one of
the most spirited of the Senate colts
and is kicking out in fine style.
Senator Beyeridge wanted to be a
member OF the great Finance Commit
tee, when the committees were reor-
ganized lust December. He has never
had any experience in framing tariff
or financial bills and has also been a
source of friction on every committee
where he ever served. He was refused
place on Finance and an ex-member
of the House Ways and Means Com
mittee, Senator Hopkins, of Illinois,
VINO had helped frame the Dingley
ttrin law, was put on. Ever since
then Mr. Beyeridge has been one of
the colts. He has constantly predicted
the downfall of Senator Aldrie1. Chair
man of the Finance Committee, az
leader Of the Senate. Air. Aldrich has
not taken altogether kindly 10 the cir
eulatiou of those reports by Mr.. Bev-
eridge. The lively fire between the
two Senator'S on the floor the other day
WIS due TO the unkindly feelings the
enc entertains for the other. They did
not descend to a personal quarrel dur
ing the debate, but it came very close
10 It
The liz. OF the recalcitrant colts
might be added 10. The Senate in
the last three Years has gained lot of
new blood. the old leaders have been
gradually dropping out and those who
are left sometimes have TO look to
their laurels. And yet there is prac-
iicaliy little chance that the colts will
get loose and carry things their own
way The Senate leaders are very
cautious in shaping up their programs.
They know ttisiit;4as leaders lead by fcre-
stalling the wishes of the majority
They are very keen men fin finding out
what the Will Of the majority IL likely
TO be.
Then as soon as new Senator comes
In who demonstrates that he has abiii-
gin to provide for him. They make
good places for him on committees,
places where he can grow up to have
influence in legislation. The theory
of such selections is very wise. il
proceeds upon the idea that best men
shall be developed by this quiet but
effective method Few, II any, mis-
takes are made by such selections
The Senators who do the kicking.
The young colts. can safely be classed
either as having inferior ability or as
men who have not yet had enough
opportunity to satisfy the leaders OF
their ability. Occasionally a young
rOlt. who demonstrates great power by
kicking, conviDces the leaders that he
can be OF real use in conducting the
business of the Senate, whereupon he IS
certain 20 be given recognition. And
al that point he ceases TO be a colt and