Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-04
PARTY RENT BY DISPUTE
Efforts to Be Made to Get the Fac
tions Together.
MEASURES THAT MAY FAIL
Party in Power Will Be Held Re
sponsib1e by the Country for
Legislation and Its Lack.

There is not q republican majority in
either the House or the Senate"
This was the statement, uttered in a
tone of bitterness. by a republican sena-
tor and member Of the finance COM
mittee today in answer to the query of
a House leader as to conditions on the
Senate side.
He meant, Of course. that there is not
a cohesive working majority, answerable
TO party policy, upon which the party
leaders, national and congressional. can
safely count.
Such q situation has not found its
parallel in Congress in twenty years. 1t
is said by the old timers. That these
aforesaid ancients view with alarm the
trend Of affairs goes without saying.
The prospect for constructive republic
an legislation they consider to be nil.
What legislation of importance there may
be will De the legislation of factionalism
and individualism, they declare. not Of
party.
Nevertheless, they go on to say. the
republican party will be held responsible
by the country for it and there is the
rub. The insurgents and the democrats
will patch up legislation as best they may
and it will go to the country with the
&c. o. p" brand on it.
Prospect Not Pleasing.
The prospect does not please the re-
PUBLICAN political managers. Frank Hitch
cock the silent power Of the republican
national committee. notwithstanding he
Is not the titular head of that organiza-
ton, was at the Capitol yesterday with
brow of trouble furrowed like COR
ruG ated iron cornice.
Senator Murray Crane is worried and
panied. Senator Lodge looks incredulous-
"surelS t can't be so?'' is the expression
he wears So it goes down the line Of
the re reJubiican big guns until the panic
reaches the small fry, who just run
ar4una III circle
Vice President Sherman. who while
hold ng what might be called an emeritus
POSITION in legislative affairs. Is mighty
militant figure in the-politics of his party,
is distressed but aggressive. He Is In for
fight. and is far from discouraged At
Tho oCticok.
Speaker Cannon is Of like kidney, and
the same may be said of Chairman Nc
Einley of the republican congressional
campaign committee and Secretary Lou
dCrs,ager of that organization.
All of these old war horses OF the re-
publican party are ready to go into bat
tie for the party's policies. and thereafter
fo- the election of a republican House in
the next Congress. II they can get any
kind of cohesion in republican forces.
Party Cohesion Desired.
The republican party in the Senate and
House could be likened to a ball of
quicksilver dropped into q plate and the
particles scattered. To draw them to-
gether again is the problem.
The crisis that some of the legislative
managers fear as a possibility Is that
the railroad rate bill, the postal savings
bank bill. the statehood bill and most
Of the conservation measures may have to
60 over until the next session unless there
IS distinct and speedy improvement In
the political situation in Congress.
OF cou- Sc, every possible effort will be
made 10 prevent such ~dfsaster-for 1t
would be considered disaster from the
republican political viewpoineand to
that end republicans are being appealed
TO by the prominent men In the party
to drop factionalism and endeavor to get
together on a definite policy that Will be
approved by the country.
When President Taft comes back to the
city he will be apprised Of the grave situ-
alton in Congress and will unquestionably
gather the politicians and statesmen
% bout him and try to bring order out OF
the prevailing chaos.