The Washington herald., 1910-11-10

death OF Nelson Dingley, of Maine. In
1888.
Became Floor Leader.
Mr.. Dingley was chairman OF the Com
mittee on Ways and Means He was sue
ceeded by Mr.. Payne. who. by virtue OF
the Craftsmanship, became floor leader in
accordance with custom. Prior to his
election as speaker Joseph @. Cannon
was the actual floor leader. Mr.. Payne
merely sported the badge OF office, and
never showed resentment when Uncle
Joe elbowed him out OF the way in the
face Of an assault by the Democrats.
After Mr.. Cannon assembled the rostrum
MIR. Payne exercised most OF the func-
tons Of the floor leader. or at least ex-
ercised such as were necessary.
Senate Not in Harmony.
Throughout the life Of the Sixty-second
Congress President Taft will be threat
ened by the opposition Of both branches
OF the National Legislature This is
clearly indicated in the returns, and is
a matter Of grave concern to admins
tration leaders. A gain Of nine Demo-
cratic votes will in all probability be
registered in the Senate.
The present Republican majority in the
Senate is twenty-six The election of
nine Democratic Senators to take the
place of Republicans reduces the latter's
majority TO eight. The indications are
that the Democrats will elect in New
York. New Jersey. Ohio. Indiana. Ne
braska, Missouri. Nevada, West Virginia,
and Maine. The Senate. therefore, in the
new Congress will stand fifty Republicans
to forty-two Democrats. There Is in the
Senate now, and will be in the Sixty
second Congress, a group of militant in
surgents Six Of these insurgents, join
ing with the Democrats. would reduce
the regular Republican strength 10 forty
four and increase the Democratic insur-
gent vote TO forty-eight, thus wrestling
control Of the Senate from the respon-
sible Republican leadership.
The Republicans who may be expected
to join with the Democrats on occasions
are La Toilette OF Wisconsin, Cummins
Of Iowa, Bristow OF Kansas, Clapp OF
Minnesota, Bourne. of Oregon, and posi-
bly, BOrah. Of Idaho.
May Aid Democrats.
There are other Republican Senator'S
who. it is feared, may, in connection with
certain classes OF legislation, join with
the Democrats and take away control
from the responsible Republican leader
ship. They are Brown. OF Nebraska /;
Crawford. OF South Dakota, and Nelson,
OF Minnesota. The last-named Senator
voted against the Payne-Aldrich tariff
bin Years ago. as a member OF the
House. he left his party and voted for
the Mills Democratic tariff bill.
In addition, it is pointed out here that
Miles Poindexter, OF Washington. and
AISLE ]. Gonna. of North Dakota, who
now represent their States In the House.
are insurgents OF the most radical type
Judging from their past records. they are
likely to join with the Democrats on the
slightest prOvocatiOn.
Among politicians the belief is ex-
pressed that Gov.-elect Woodrow Wilson
looms up as the strongest contender for
Democratic Presidential hon0rs. For the
time he appears 10 overshadow Gov. judi
son Harmon, OF Ohio, whose friends
have asserted that if he won this year
nothing could prevent his nomination by
the Democratic National Convention in
1912 Mayor Gaynor's name is mentioned,
as is also that OF GoY.-elect Eugene N
Foss, of Massachusetts,