The Washington times., 1910-05-26
PARTY LINES SHIFT
QUICKLY IN SENATE.
Democratic Aid Frequently
Enlisted BY A1drich to
Gain Point.
COMPROMISES SAVE
HIM FROM DEFEAT
Little Account Now Taken of
Manner In Which Members
Are Aligned.

Things have so shaped themselves
IN the Senate and House in recent
months that little account is now
taken of how members align them
selves with respect to party
a good deal has been said of the in
surgent Republicans lining up with
the Democrats in the House and in
the Senate. Sometimes, the regular
leaders assaiI the insurgents for the
readiness with which they line up with
the Democrats, or part Of the Demo
Gratis Certain Of the Senate Demo-
Gratis, especially Rayner, long ago at
tarcted some notice by inviting the in
surgents TO join with the Democrats.
Senator Bailey lectured the insurgents
for not dwelling IN harmony with their
leaders.
But the regulars join with the Dem
ocrats quite as readily as the insurg-
ents when they think 1t necessary TO
do so. In the course Of the consid-
Grafton of the railroad bill in the Sen
ate. Senator Aldrich and his heuten-
ants have managed to enlist the aid
of Democrats on a number of occa-
ejons. 1t is the almost invariable
practice Of Senator Aidrich, when he
gets in a hole as to some matter on
which he wants to control the Senate,
10 negotiate with the Democrats. He
did this on the tariff and is doing it
on the railroad bill. At various times
IN the consideration Of the railroad
bill, he has saved himself from square
defeat on amendments by enhSting
the help of Democrats and thus com
handing enough votes TO be able TO
bring about a compromise.
Denial by Johnston
Tho other day, stories were printed
that Senator Johnston OF Alabama was
] working with Senator Aldrich 10 bring
about a compromise on the railroad
bill. Senator Johnston rose TO ques-
ton Of privilege and denied this. Since
then, most of the Senate Democrats
have evinced much sensitiveness about
/ being charged with having any negotta-
tons with the Republican leader
At the time the long and short haul
clause question was being considered
in the Senate. there was one period
when the Republican regular leaders be-
lieved they had twelve votes nailed
down. They would have carried every
thing before them on the long and short
haul clause had it not been for the eff
forts Of some of the more vigorous Of
the Democratic Senators who had made
up their minds that if the Democrats
were ever going 10 get anywhere they
would have TO stop putting themselves
in the control Of Senator Aidrich and
would have to adopt a vigorous policy
Of their own.
Senators Clay, Overman, Rayner, and
others labored with the Democrats, who
were ready to go with the Republican
regular leaders, and the result was that
on the day for the vote, it was found all
but a few Of the Democrats could be
relied on to vote for amendment OF the
Observation-Disclosures clause law This
upset all the calculations Of Senator
Aldrich and his forces, and they rushed
10 cover and sought compromise.
Several Instances.
On the Cummins' amendment 20 re
Quire the approval Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission before rates are
increased, the Senate regular leaders
are declared to be in a position to pre-
vent adoption through the aid Of Demo-
cratic votes. Smith OF Maryland, Mar
Tin of Virginia, Paynter OF Kentucky,
and several others being counted on by
them.
capitalization control legislation In
the railroad measure will be prevented
by an alliance OF Senate regulars and
Democrats.
Tariff commission legislation will In
all probability be prevented by a SINH
lar alliance.
Already. the plan to clothe the tariff
board with broader and more specific
powers has been practically beaten IN
the House by such stalwarts as Payne,
Dalzell, and Fordney joining the Demo-
Gratis.
From these instances. it appears that
the regulars coaIesce with the Democrats
quite as readily as the insurgents when
they want TO gain a point.