The Daily Missoulian., 1910-11-08

the house OF representatives for the
Forty-fourth congress. From that
time until the F.ifty-fourth congress,
which began its life on March I, 1896,
the two parties alternated in one house
or the other with every biennial elec-
ton.
The republican landslide which bur-
led the democrats in 1894 was con-
firmed two years later in the great
gold and silver campaign between Nc
K,inley and Bryan. In the Fifty
fourth congress elected in 1894 the re- .
publicans had q majority in the house
of 142. This was reduced in 1896 to
72, and in 1900 It was still further re-
duced to %. During the 16 years of
republican control this small majority
in the Fifty-sixth congress represents
republican low tide. In the. Fifty sew
enth congress the majority increased
to Is. in the Fifty eighth 1t dropped to
50, in the Fifty-ninth. elected in 1904,
1t swelled to ia, only to drop again
in the Sixtieth to 5S In the present
congress. elected in 1908. the republic
cans had at the beginning a majority
Of Al.
During the first II years of this long
period of republican control there was
practically absolute unanimity among
the forces OF the majority. 1t was
not until the present congress, the
Sixty-first. that any dissension ap-
peared. The insurgent movement, al
though representing a sentiment long
held under cover made itself felt first
by opposition to the further contin-
uance of the Reed rules which. with
out important amendment, had gov
erned congress for lS years. In an ef-
fort to overthrow the rules number
of insurgent republicans joined with
a majority OF the democrats. In de-
fense of the principal rules q minori-
ty of the democrats Joined with the
/ majority of the republicans, and
succeeded in readopting the rules with
some unimportant amendments. In
surgency thus first brought into op-
position to the regular organization of
the republican majority afterward
made itself the controlling factor in
the affairs of the house, and on sew
eral occasions, by combining with the
democrats, succeeded in defeating the
regular republican majority. With re-
spect to the traiff legislation and the
interstate commerce legislation the in
surgents We're particularly bold in OPP
posing the leaders of the party to
which they always professed fealty.
If the democrats should carry the
elections today, it will be a novel ex-
perience to nearly all the democrats
who will meet to organize the house
of representatives for the next con-
gress. In the present house, out Of
ia democrats, there are only four who
were members of congress when there
was democratic speaker In the chair.
They are William A. Jones Of Vir-
ginia, L. +. Livingston of Georgia,
both of whom were members of the
Fifty-second and Fifty-third con-
crosses. Champ Clark of Missouri,
member of the Fifty-third congress.
and j. T.. C. Talbot of Maryland,
who was member of the democratic
/ house in the Forty sixth, Forty
eigth and F'ifty-third congresses. One
of these four, at least, will not be a
member of the next house. Mr.. Liv-
ingston. who was one Of the 20 demo-
Gratis who supported Cannon in the
| fight on the rules. was defeated for
denomination. 1t may be mentioned
that although Mr.. Livingston is now
a democrat, he was during his service
in democratic houses under Speaker
Crisp, allied with the farmers. alli
ance and populist parties. Represen-
tatives Bartlett OF Georgia, Sparkman
\ - r@Yo C,,l oG No nd
Underwood of Alabama. are the next
oldest democratic veterans in the
house, each of them beginning his
service with the Fiftyfourth congress.
which was the first of the long line
of republican houses.
It is highly improbable that the
democrats will be able even to ap-
proach a majority in the senate. But
it is interesting to note that there is
not now a single democratic senator
who knows what it is to be a majority
member Of the upper house OF con-
gress. John w. Daniels of Virginia,
who died last spring. was the last
survivor of the last democratic sem
atoral majority. The three Oldest
democrats in point of service in the
senate, are Senators Bacon OF Georgia,
Martin of Virginia and Tillman OF
South Carolina. all of whom began
their service on March I, 1895. which
was the beginning of the present long
era of absolute republican dominancy.
There are more republicans who re-
member what it was to serve as a
minority member. In the house there
are Speaker Cannon. whose service be-
gan with the Forty-thtrd congress,
General H. H. bingham of Pennsyl-
vania, Serene r. Payne of New York.
John Dalzell of Pennsylvania Richard
Bartholdt of Missouri, H. A. Cooper
of Wisconsin. ]. ]. Gardner of New
Jersey, +. H. Gillett of Massachusetts,
II. c. Loudensager of New Jersey
and S. w. Mccall of Massachusetts
j. A. T. Hull Of Iowa and James A
Tawney of Minnesota were also mem
hers of democratic houses, but they
were defeated for denomination in the
republican primaries this year,
There are eight republican senators
in the present senate who were there
-..tA