Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-15
HOPE TO COME BACK
Democrats to Move Slowly in
the 62d Congress.
CARE IN HANDLING TARIFF
Conservative Leaders to Prevent
Radical Legislation.
POSITION OF CHAMP CLARK
Prospective Speaker Declares
Against Injury to Business-Trou-
blesome Problems for Party.
CARE IN HANDLING TARIFF
POSITION OF CHAMP CLARK
Speaker

From all quarters come indications
and assurances that the democrats in
Congress intend to move with great
caution and after mature deliberation
In their plans and policies for the Six
ty-second Congress. Harmony" is to
be their watchword; the presidency in
1912 their goal.
The situation confronting them is ad-
mittedly beset with difficulties. but
these they hope to overcome by coun-
sci, wariness and unity OF action. In
former years when they were in the
majority they were confronted by a
compact, adroit minority. Next year
the opposition will be house divided
against ITSELF from all present indica-
tions.
Clark a Pacif1cator.
Champ Clark. the prospective demo-
cratic leader. has devoted himself in the
past two years to efforts to unite the
democratic party in the House. He is
recognized now best by the title OF 'the
great pacificator." In the face sometimes
Of extreme aggravation he has restrained
SAiC OatSC1 WOI0s WitbACiu ShC haAo Va
harshness and poured oil on the troubled
waters. Mr.. Clark's friends say that he
expects to reap the reward of his efforts
in the unity Of his party.
Mr.. Clark does not aspire to fame as a
Machtavelh In craftsmanship. He is es-
sentially q straightforward man and
thinks the plain way the better. When
William r. Day was Secretary Of State
his policy was dubbed ''shirt-sleeve diplo-
4
craftsmanship for his party-but no one
need pick him out as an "easy mark" at
that.
Mr.. Clark is absolutely lacking in ego.
There has never been q time during his
leadership of the minority when he at
tempted to force his personal opinion
upon his party. and his friends say now
that he Is more than ever inclined to
submit policies to caucus action. He be-
lieves firmly in the wisdom of the rank
and nle as against individual omniscience.
So he will urge and insist that the
party proceed slowly. discuss their poll
cies thoroughly and not announce them
until the democratic membership Is ready
to stand by them.
Delicate Questions Ahead.
Two very delicate problems will con-
front the democrats at the outset, and
those problems are whether the commit
tees shall be appointed by the Speaker
or by committee or committees named
by party caucus, and how to proceed with
revision of the tariff. At the beginning
OF the regular session of the present Con-
gress Mr.. Clark advocated, In behalf of
the minority. the latter form OF procedure.
But that was for the republican party.
1t remains to be seen whether sauce for
the goose Is sauce for the gander.'
AS to the first proposition, sticklers
nOn21GfanCv ri i'm hof ho
democrats will have to stand for the
committee on committees. BUT there
Is precedent for inconsistency. Every
body remembers how the democrats
first Congress. especially Speaker
Reeds counting of quorum.
But Continued the Counting.
Yet when the democrats came into
power in the .Fifty-second Congress
they unblushingly adopted the quor-
m-counting-they needed it in their
business-and for that matter, the
bulk of the Reed rules. They took
them because they knew they were
practical. sensible rules which ex-
pedited the public business.
Having inveighed against the auto
cratic power of the Speaker through
out the past session. the democrats
will be faced with the necessity Of
inaugurating reform, and they
claimed that such reform could be Sc
cured through divesting the Speaker
of the power of appointment and vest
ing 1t in a popular committee.
With some Of his friends it Is a ques-
tion whether Mr.. Clark may not be COM
placent to such a change. II he is to ap-
point the committees he will have many
troubled night, they say. There stand
| the elder statesmen of the party. Jealous
of their vested rights In committee
assignments by virtue of seniority, and
here come the clamorous. eager, am
| bilious young democrats swept into Of
! fee by the great landslide. And some of
| the vested rights group will be con-
| testing among themselves for coveted
| chairmanships outside their own COM
/ miitees making the Speakers life bur-
| den.
Tariff Issue Troublesome.
| The tariff problem win be the SUBJ
| ject Of prayerful consideration. Already
| there are two sets of opinions advanced
| by democrats. One group favors repeal
| ing the Payne-Aldrich law outright and
| substituting a revenue tariff. The other
would made the wool. cotton and food
products schedules one by one and frame
them anew, along what they would term
more equable lines. and get immediate
popular favor.
Conservative democrats intend to urge
| their brethren to act very advisedly
about changing the tariff They insist
| that the greatest caution must be exer-
cised to prevent the charge being sus-
| tained-it will undoubtedly be made
that the democratic party is hurting
American Industries. They know that
the republicans are looking forward as