The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-01-14
CAN vARDAMAN
REACH SENATE?
Former Mississippi Governor
a Candidate. ..,.,,.,,..
IS OUT FOR MlAURilPS SEAT
Tried 30 succeed Money, but Was De-
feated by John Sharp Williams.
What Taft Will Recommend on In
terstats corrmeroo Law-TaIe That
Democratic Divisions Are Patched Up.


te+state cornmeroe Law-TaIe That
Democratic Divisions Arc Patched Up
Washington, Dec. 30 = Those who
kept track of the administrations OF
former Governor ]. x. Vardaman OF
Mississippi-and nearly everybody in
the country at least heard of them
are now wondering if Vardaman viii
at last succeed in breaking into the
United States senate. The hard fought
campaign between the governor and
John Sharp Williams is still remem
bered in Mississippi-and elsewhere
Williams won by a narrow margin
That contest was for the seat now oc.
cupied by Senator Money, the new
minority leader of the senate, which
will be vacated on March 3, 1911. No
sooner had Vardaman learned that he
was defeated than he announced him
self a candidate to succeed Senator
A. j. McLaurin, whose recent death
has left the seat Unexpectedly vacant.
The question now is, VIII Vardaman
make good his threat and enter the
contest for the vacancy? OF course
the present governor could appoint,
but as the legislature is on the eve of
meeting there would be no object in
his doing so, and it is understood that
he will leave the legislature to fight
it out. Can Vardaman control a ma
jority? VIII the friends of Senator
Elect williams permit him to do 80 2
These are questions that interest
every one who knows what a pictur-
ssque and virile figure vardaman was
in the executive chair and in Demo
cratic national conventions. If the
former governor succeeds in getting
into the senate 1t Is safe to say he
will be anything but a nonentity. In
deed, it is generally predicted that he
would make a senator of the Tiilman
type.
Taft and the Railroads..
Speculation is still rife IN the capk
tai as to what recommendations Pres
ident Taft will make In his railroad
message. The transportation men are
especially concerned, and as they are
In more or less intimate rela tons with
many senators and Representatives
the interest naturally extends to con-
gress. 1t is not generally believed
that Taft will go as far as did the
Interstate commerce commission in it's
recent report. Among the demands
made by the commission are the phys
zeal valuation Of all roads, power to
advance rates pending an investiga-
ton, authority to establish joint rates
and broader power over capitaliza-
ton. 1t Is practically certain that the
president will balk at the physical
valuation proposition, but will recon-
mend the other demands, at least In
modified form. One story has it that
Taft will embody the recommenda-
tons made by the legal advisers
whom he asked to look into the sub
ject. If so, the program he presents
to congress will embrace among 9th
ers the following points: Power of the
interstate commerce commission to
fix rates on its own initiative, a COM
merce court, the placing of telegraph
and telephone companies under the
control Of the commission, the per
mission Of shippers to designate the
routes over which their goods shall be
transported and power to limit stock
holdings so that competition may be
fostered The president would save
lot of mental wear and tear on all of
US if he would put his recommends
tons all in one message instead of
dribbliug them along in special COM
municauons.
Are House Democrats United?
There are almost as many rumors
during a session of congress as in a
presidential campaign. The latest con-
Corning this particular session is to
the effect that sweet peace has once
more come into the camp of the Dem
ocrats. This tale has it that Champ
Clark has rounded up the Fitzgerald
people and other recalcitrants that re-
fused to stand with him i'm his tie-up
with the insurgent Republicans and
that the next time the insurrectos get
ready TO unhorse Uncle Joe Cannon
and his rules they will have solid
Democratic support. The particular
kind OF bait used by Leader Clark is
not diyulged. There are hints that he
employed lot OF political finesse in
reaching his ends, but that the matter
for the present is a deep, dark secret.
1t is a good story, but Champ is from
Missouri. and 50 are some OF the rest
Of US when it comes to political ru-
mors Of that particular variety. 1t is
rather late in the day to spring a
thing Of that kind. The rules are
adopted. and all proposed changes
must 20 to the committee on rules.
The time to have endorsed Cannon
was before he was mounted and safe
ly in the saddle.
The Power Of the Country Press.
The actuating force behind the in
surcent movement is not to be found
In the little insurrectionary groups in
the house and senate. Back Of them
stand their constituents. Every time
a forward step has been taken In this
country OF any other il has been forced
by public opinion. This is the power
az work now. The voice Of this senti-
ment is the country press. the dailies
and weeklies in the smaller cities and