The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-11-24
WHO SHALL LEAD
THE DEMOCRATS
TO new FIELDS
Shall Wilson, Harmon or Dix
Become Moses of Empow.
cred Party.
bryan INSISTS THAT THE
PEOPLE ONLY SHALL RULE

ference Which Will Meet Shortly to
Fix the Future Policy Of the
Party.
Washington, Nov 24.-While the
Democrats newly elected to congress-
ere gradually uniting in support of
Champ Clark for speaker of the next
house, their quarrel has now broken
Git over the question o. what persons
should be invited to take part in the
PROPOSED conference to map out the
democratic course for the next two
years. In all plans previously dis
cassed the participation of sucn men
as Governors-elect Wilson of New
Jersey, Dix Of New York, Baldwin of
Connecticut, and Foss Of Massachu-
sets, and Governor Harmon of Ohio
has been contemplated. Now various
OBJECTIONS are being raised to the idea
OF any one of them being invited to
the proposed conference.
Some of the Democrats are pointing
out that at least three of these-Wil-
son, Harmon and Dix-will figure as
candidates in the Democratic conven-
ton Of 1912. The argument is made
that should they be invited to a gen.
eral conference to map out the future
of the party they might quarrel over
their personal policies and put the
party in a disagreeable light.
Another objection, equally serious
In the opinion of the Democrats, is
that there would be question of
propriety in the Offering of advice by
state officers to the great federal body,
congress. Democrats In congress hold
that they were elected by the people
to decide on legislation, and that no
advice is needed from the leaders in
the various states.
The men who are holding out for o
general conference assert that this is
no time for such splitting Of hairs.
The main thing Is to. win the -presi.,
dency In 1912. The way to Minsit is
to avoid mistakes from now until then.
The way to avoid mistakes is for
everybody to get together and decide
on definite series Of moves.
Opposed to Outside Help.
Most of the Democrats agree that
there should be conferences among
the house and senate members, oppo.
sition being centered merely on the
proposition to brink the presidential
candidates into the happy congress
sional family.
"The Democratic members of con-
gress," said one of the Democrats last
night. "are fully capable Of deciding
the big issues without outside help.
We want no quarreling among the
presidential candidates, and that is
what would result il we had them in
our conferences. Moreover, we ore
not anxious for any Alton B. Parkers
or Edward NJ. Shepards to take part.
For my own part, believe that the
newly elected members to congress-
the ones who come fresh from the
people-can tell US just about what
the people Of the country want. The
intent OH their own game to do US
very much good.
Besides, we are the ones who will
be held responsible for mistakes. The
opinion Of most men I've talked 10 is
that the Democratic members OF con-
gress will have to stand all the blame
IL any mistakes are made, and that
tAcy, therefore, should map out tie
pa1ty's future course. If we accepted
the suggestion of Wilson, Harmon, or
oven Bryan, we couldn't after~ard
SAY the mistake was due to the man
who made the suggestion. My own
thought, therefore. is that we should
exclude all the Democratic governors
ard all the Parkers and Shepards
from the conferences"
The Democratic party leaders real
ize that the tariff lisa red-hot poker,
the picking up Of which should be
done very cautiously. The conserva-
tive element Is now in favor of wai.-
ing until the tariff board sends In tile
wooden schedule for revision, and act
ing on that one schedule in good
faith.
New Men for Clark.
Some of the members. however, are
still shouting for an extra session. for
revision Of the rules, the appoint
ment Of a committee on committees,
the stripping Of Clark Of his power,
and the raising of trouble generally.
These members, later on, may or
ganize into a healthy insurgent body,
similar to the one within the ranks
If the Republican party. At the pres
ent time each dissenting Democrat Is
his own insurgent party.
Opposition to Clark as speake. Is
conned mainly to a small group,
headed by James Hay Of Virginia. Mr..
Hay takes the position that any can
didate for the speakership should
definitely declare himself on the ques-
ton of a committee on committees.
He also comes out fatty against the
proposition to revise the tariff sched-
ule by schedule.
While Representative Hays view OH
these questions makes no mention of
a candidacy for the speakership in
opposition to Clark, many Democrats
have taken It to mean as much. The
statement is virtually the platform on
which insurgency in the Democratic
party will be built
Mr. Hay believes that no speaker