The National tribune., 1909-02-18
INSURRECTI0N
in The SENATE.
The YcH1gef and Western Senators Want
More RecogBition-The Matter CompIi.
Gated by Revenue Favors.

been vigorously attacked, while heavily
incumbered with wagon trains, and the
generals of procedure are swearing in
their boards. A few Western guerrillas
have swept out into the open at a very
embarrassing moment They cannot
hope to make any important captures.
but they can seriously impede the
march.
For when Senator La Toilette, Of
Wisconsin,, declared hostIlities the other
day against Senator Hale ,nof Maine, and
announced that the Navy appropriation
bill should not pass till after full delib-
Grafton he started a. battle that has
been expected in the Senate all Winter.
Fighting Bob" Wants leadership in
Congress and a full recognition thereof.
For two or three years past he has di-
rected his batteries occasionally upon
Senator Aldrich. Chairman of Finance.
They have had 1t hoc and lheayy many
q time, but all in all 'tFightfng Bob has
made no material gains. Mr.. Hale
stands forth as the leader of the
Senate, il successionto to theslate Senator
Allison He has ruled there this VIM
! ter with q firm hands The plans have
| been laid for execution or the Maine
Senator's plans and without any fool
| ing. He is to-day quite as supreme in
the management os the Senate as the
late Speaker Reed was in the House.
Senator Beveridge, of Indiana, who only
| a few months ago aspired to leadership
and had mighty fall, had no yearning
| for another conflict. Senator La Fol-
lette was the only one who dared.
An Interesting Struggle Promised.
The struggle promises to be as inter-
esting, as far as fights for Senate lead
ership are concerned, as any that have
| occurred in a generation. Speaking
very generally, it is between the Eas!
| and the Far West, between the older
Senators of ability and experience and
| the younger Senators, most of whom
have demonstrated no special legislative
capacity, but al, the same want more
voice in the Senate councils. The West
/ long ago captured the control of tho
House. 1t not only had the numbers
but II began sending to Congress mer
/ who had the brain power. The East
especially New England. has continued
eiecting strong men to the Senate, as G
rule; most of its Representatives have
been of mediocre talents.
The Senate will be reorganized soor
after the extra session convenes. 1t i:
reorganized every two years, by which
is meant that the committee vacancie!
are filed. A Committee on Committee.
makes the new lists. subject to approva
by the Republican caucus. In the House
; the Speaker makes up the committees
But there is virtually the same one
man power in the Senate for the Chair
man of the Republican caucus names
the Committee on Committees. 1t is il
the long run great power to exercise
For he Who names the Committee OF
Committees virtually rules the Senate.
La Toilette in the Senate.
No one needs to remind Senator L;
Toilette or his company of dozen Sen
hDc n
that fact. Mr.. La Toilette has worn ;
toga now for almost four years. On
most questions he has voted with th'
Democrats. The old Republican Leaders
hate him with cordial hatred. He ha!
now sufficient length of service to rat,
some fairly good committee assign
ments. But his Observation-Disclosures
Republican Senator has Chairman
ship of some SORTS that on the Po
tomac River Front. To reach his com
mittce room from the Senate floor Mr.
La Toilette has to let himself down b.
elevator about so feet into the ground
march thru little brick arched tunne
that would squeeze a fat imam, tramI
along a quarter of atmileuof dirty ole
Underground corridors, and then dowr
a little flight of stairs hefore he find.
any sunlight. OF course he could gt
way around the north end aof the Capt
tol and ascend the back stairs of thu
building. but it would be eYen more in
r convenient
When he served in the House fo
three terms some 20 years iago. Mr.. L:
Toilette was member of Ways ant
Means. He. helped frame tariff bill
/, and like measures of NATIONAL .mpor
tance. In the Senate he has had n,
such opportunity, but has made him
self Troublesome when big measure
were brought upon thtifooF. There ar
soon to be two or three vacancies TO
Western Republicans on the Financ
1 Committee, which revises The tariff bill
to be passed by the House in March o
April. Mr. La Toilette ordinarily woul,
be regarded as well qualified for one o
1 thoses7 places. But Senator Aldrich
I wearing the scars OF battle with La Fol
lette, stands in the doorway. No Com
{ mittee on Committees thai Senator Hal
: names would allow any Republican t
. be assigned to that committee whom
Senator Aldrich does not approve.
OF course, there are other RepuhIi
can Senators from the West in lik,
predicament as TO committees. Thei
fight, like that of Senator La Toilette
who has assumed the leadership. is on,
of desperation. Their only recours,
y seems 10 be To make so much trouble
l. for Senator Hale that he and his lead
Y ing lieutenants must grant concessions
i Therefore. they have begun their war
d fare on appropriation bills, just whei
5 the Senate must proceed with great ex
pedition to get thru before March 4.
i. is easy to block the passage of those biz