The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-05
EVERYTHING READY
 FOR NEW SESSION
Statesmen. Are Arriving for
 Opening of Congress
UNDERWOOD PRESENT
There Is il Great Deal of Talk Among Lenders Of Republican Party as
 to Future of the
 Organization
By RALPH M. wHITEsIDE

NuSHlIlBIO0s 1CtCAiiOCi NOPSSioisJ- Everything is in readiness for the open ing of Congress Monday. The statesmen are here from Uncle Joe Cannon and Nelson w. Aldrich down. There is one notable difference in the assembling of this session of Congress and any of its predecessors of recent years. It is the democrats who are chipper and cheerful while an air of gloom penetrates tbe re- publican ranks. While among the half thousand or so of House employees, many of whom had come to believe they had a proprietary right in their places, the at mosphere is SO densely black 1t Is opaque.
 Already old democratic war horses like Clayton and Underwood of Alabama, Ol- lie James of Kentucky, Bartlett of Geor- gla. Broussard of Louisiana, Hammond of Minnesota, Candler of Mississippi are looking over the principal committee rooms with a sort of proprietary interest which does not decrease the republican gloom.
 Tbere is good deal of quiet talk among the republican leaders as to the future of the party. The recent election has demonstrated to them that if there is to be any chance of success in 1912 it Is es- sential that the party put itself more in line with the progressive element. The fact that the republicans only held their own in those states which were con- trolled by the progressives and that suc- cess was in almost direct rates to the degree of progression control has demon- streted this fact. There is a growing feeling that President Taft Is not suffi- ciently enamored of his place to make a fight for the nomination, but Is rather disposed to make way for some one else. In progressive quarters there Is a lot of talk about getting one of the men who has made record as an-insurgent In Congress, to run. Senator LaFollette has his following Senator Cummins also has many supporters who think he would make an available candidate. Had Sena- tor Deliver lived there is no question he would have had a substantial presidential boom Indeed, there is not much question that the. personal relations between Dol liver and Roosevelt were such that Roose- welt would have supported Deliver for President ahead of any other man in the progressive ranks.
 Under any circumstances the insurgent wing in Congress is going to exert its in f1uence. That influence may come around to Roosevelt or it may go in the direc- ton of supporting some of the men who have led the progressive struggle in Congress. In the event there is not much question the Cummins boom would have become formidable. And 1t would be- come highly so If MT. Taft should let 1t be known he would not run again. It has already been announced from Des Moines that Senator Cummins Is . candidate for President. As a matter of fact, 1t has been freely talked among politicians at Washington for months that events might shape up so he would be a presidential factor. That he has an ambition to be President is pretty strongly known. just as num- Der of other strong men in Congress have their eye on that goal.
 At one time Senator Bevertdge aspired to the presidency. But his defeat in h. diana will serve to eliminate him from consideration.
 Senator LaFollette was a candidate for the presidency at the last republican na- tional convention, but he received only a few votes. Since that time he has become morr and more powerful, not only in the Senate, but throughout the country, and there is feeling in Washington that be- tween now and the date for the next re- publican convention he will gain strength in surprising fashion.
 No man in public life has proved to be quite so good prophet of things politi- cal as has LaFollette. It was the custom of old-timers in the Senate during Lar ol- lettes early days in that body to snub the statesman from Wisconsin every time he arose to speak by leaving the chamber for the quiet of the. smoking rooms. La- Toilette was not unaware of the intended slight, but on one occasion he made the prediction that many of the seats tenn porarily vacated during the course of his remarks on great public questions would be permanently vacated unless the sena . tors sent to Congress to occupy them dealt with legislation as he proposed to deal with 1t.
 On another occasion he observed that just as sure as election day came around certain senators who persisted in voting for increased tariff duties would be re- tired to public life, The recent election demonstrated that Senator LaFollette was speaking by the cards, for eight of the republican senators who made it a point to ignore the LaFollette speeches on the tariff and other great questions will be retired on the day the senator from Wisconsin presents his credentials
 
 Senate.
 Candidates for some of the biggest jobs which the democrats in the next House will hand out have already sprung up, and yet others are known to be sprout- ing.
 It became known this morning that forrper Representative Trimble of Ken lucky would like the House clerkshp. This is a $5O00 a year position, and is about the most desirable in the gift of the House.
 Already Representative Lon Living ston of Georgia, who was defeated for re- election in his own district, has told his friends that he would be candidate for tho clerkship. MT. Livingston Is the ranking democrat in the House and has 6 host of friends among his democratic associates.
 MT. Trimble, who comes from Lexing- ton, Ky, served three terms in the House, and was one of the most popular members of that body He has sent out letters to the democrats. who will have seats in the next Congress. asking their support
 It became known today, too, that Joe Sinnott will be candidate for doorkeep- CT of the House. Sinnott, as is known, Is an old employe and has been clerk of that body for some time. He is Vir- gipan and has the hearty support of the Virginia delegation for the job.
 It Is generally understood that if the south gets the clerk and the doorkeeper, New York, or perhaps Ohio, will get the sergeant-at-arms. Members ot, the House say that they have received no notice of car arJidacy from any aspirant for the ser geant-at-arms job.