The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-27
DEMOCRATS TREAD.
ON VERY THIN ICE
They Must Get Together if
They Would Avert
Crash.
"HARMoNIzER' is NEEDED
Former Minority Leader VIII
liams May Be Called to
Close the Breach.
'HARMoNIzER' is NEEDED
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l

4 lspeclal to The Times Dispatch1
i Washington. December 26,--Tht
Short session" of the sixty-frst Con
gress is going down in history as q
"do-nothing" Congress, Whatever the
prospect for a lively three months
may have been a few weeks back.
Before the present session began
there was every indication that the
three months following would be the
most interesting seen, from a national
viewpoint, in many years. But re-
markable change has taken place.
There are many reasons now to be-
lieve that when the present session
ends on March 4 nothing will have
been done but to pass the routine
appropriation bills and the insignifi-
cant measures of other kinds that
are allowed to go through the legis
lative mill just to fill up the time.
On Thin lee.
There are two reasons why moth
ing is going to be done at this ses-
sion The Democrats were never
before treadins on thinner ice than
they are at this particular time. The
troublesome rules" question is threat
ening to cause serious sTrfe inside
the party lines before March comes
round. The Democrats cannot agree
among themselves on policy. Some
want the much-t talked of committee on
committees. some want the Speaker to
continue naming the committees and
some don't know what they want
Some are opposed to having the "steer-
ing" committee of the House, which
is TO be selected by the caucus to be
held next month, composed OF any
members whose votes were with the
Republicans when the tariff bill was
before Congress last session. The
whole situation, so far as the Demo-
Gratis are concerned. is a most deli
cate one, and it would not take much
to cause a big explosion inside the
ranks.
Another reason why nothing will be
done this session Is that with many
Republicans to go out-those who at
present hold the upper hand and those
who have really been doing things"
for many years-there is a feeling
that il is useless for them to enter
upon a plan of accomplishing any
thing with only two months left to
serve in Congress. These Republi-
cans say-those who Will not return |
% the sixty-second Consress-that the |
line is too short for them to accom- /
ollsh anything else while here, and !
hat so far as possible they will SIM
,ly put the finishing touches on what |
hey began before.
With this situation it is apparent !
hat little will be accomplished here |
Turing the next two months.
What the Democrats Need.
What the Democrats need" said an
- - Il.
wo ago. SIS liberal injection of COM
non sense The way they are rowing
.mong themselves over the question of
appointments is nothing to
What will happen when the caucus
meets unless, in the meantime, some
'lan can be found to harmonic all
orces. 1t seems to me that although
,hamp Clark has not yet been formal
V elected Speaker that he should be
onsulted and his advice taken regard
ng the future policy of the Demo-
rats in the House. / can readily I'M
erstand just why he would not want
o give his opinions before he is made
peaker. but If the Democrats would
ealize that his advice must be fol-
owed and his counsel acted upon
hink they would be able to harmonic
etter."
John Sharp Williams Coming.
While nothing authentic can be
earned concerning the matter, it has
cen limited around the Capitol for sew
raj days that unless the Democrats
ct together John Sharp Williams,
minority leader, may be in !
uced to come to Washington and get
is Democratic friends in line.
Although there was considerable I,
airing under the Williams leader :
hip on the Democratic side of tho :
louise, 1t is believed that the Mis-
ssippian-who will soon go over to :. :.
lie Senate to succeed Senator Money
could do much to pour oil on the :
'oubled Democratic waters. He UNI )
oubtedly has very persuasive
lethod, and this no doubt would be
ierted on the Democrats If he should Q
ome. p
The Cnucus-And What Then,
Is the caucus to settle the issues !
lat now have divided the Democrats.
: will there be chickering's and dis
Ltisfaction throughout the entire 2
Nty-Second Congress. which will be u
Democrats Congress 50 far as the t
ouse is concerned? 1t is believed that "
1less the present dissatisfaction is t
opped early that instead Of growing
SIS the present gap will become