The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-03-04
Ia TOILETTE
IN A CORNER
He Is Likely to Have Trouble
With the Republican
Machine.
(By Ernest G.. Walker.)

mail Special to the Advertiser.)
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-Tbe sen
ate's militant forces have been vigor-
! ously attacked, while heavily en-
numbered 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 can not
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 of Maine,
md declared the Navy appropriation
bill should not pass till after full
deliberations, he started battle that
has been expected in the Senate all
winter. Fighting Bob" wants leader
ship in Congress and a full recognition
thereof. For two or three years past,
he has directed his batteries occasional
~ upon Senator Aldrich, chairman of
Finance. They have had it hot and
heavy many a time, but all in all
Fighting Bob" has made no material
gains. Mr. Hale stands forth as the
new leader of the Senate, in succession
to the late Senator Allison. He has
ruled there this winter with firm
hand. The plans have been laid for
execution of the Maine Senator S plans
and without any fooling. He is today
quite as supreme in the management
of the Senate as the late Speaker Reed
was in the House Senator Beveridga
of Indiana, who, only a few months ago,
aspired to leadership and had mighty
fall, had no yearning for another con-
.iict. Senator La Toilette was the only
one who dared
Big Struggle of Generation.
The struggle promises to be as in
teresting, as far as fights for Senate
leadership are concerned, as any that
have occurred in generation. Speak
ing very generally, it is between the
East and the Far West, between the
older Senators of ability and expert
ence, and the younger Senators, most
of whom have demonstrated no special
legislative capacity but all the same
| want more voice in the Senate councils.
The West long ago captured the con-
troll of the House. 1t not only had the
numbers, but it began sending to Con-
gress men who had the brain power.
The East, especially New England, has
continued electing strong men to the
Senate, as a rule; most of its Repre-
se,atatives have been of mediocre
talents.
The Senate will be recognized, soon
after the extra session convenes. It is
rebrganized every two years, by which
is meant that the committee vacancies
are filed. A committee on commit
tees makes the new lists, subject to ap-
proval 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 chairman of the Republican
caucus names the committee on com
mittees. 1t is in the long run a great
power to exercise. For he who names
rules the Senate.
/ No one needs to remind Senator La
| Toilette, or his company of a dozen
Senatorial Republican bushwhackers of
| that fact Mr.. La Toilette has worn a
toga now for almost four years. On
| most questions he has voted with the
Democrats. The old Republican lead
ers hate him with a cordial hatred. He
has now sufficient length of service to
rate some fairly good committee assign,
ments. But his chairmanship-ever
Republican Senator has chairmansnll
of some SORTS that on the Potomac
River front. To reach his committee
room from the Senate floor, Mr. La
Toilette has to let himself down by
elevator about so feet into the ground
march through little brick arched tun
mel that would squeeze a fat man. tramp
| along quarter of mile of dirty ole
underground corridors, and then dow
a little fight of stairs before he ma:
any sunlight. Of course he could g
way round the north end of the Capito
and ascend the back stairs Of the build
ing, but it would be even more ineon
venient.
Aldrich Blocks His Pathway
| When he served in the Hnnsn 70,