Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-18


WASHINGTON, April 15.-The election
OF Senator Thomas S. Martin, of Vir-
ginia, as chairman of the minority con-
ference in the senate has been the sub
ject OF much newspaper misrepresenta-
ton some OF which may be attributed
10 ignorance and much of which has
been due to a malicious desire to dis
credit the Democratic party. Incidentally
Martins election served to widen the
breach between Democrats of the sem
ate and William Jennings Bryan helped
not believed here that Bryan helped
either his party or himself in his attitude
with reference to\ the organization OF
the senate minority.
Senator Martin has not been elected
TO the minority leadership OF the SEN
ate. In the extra session now sitting here
this fact will become manifest. Martin
will not essay to lead the Democrats.
The leadership has not been reposed In
him, and any effort on his part to act
as leader win be promptly resented
Since the DAYS of Senator German. of
Maryland, there has been no recognized
leader amongst the Democrats OF the
senate Senator culberson, of Texas, who
succeeded Senator Blackburn, Of Ken
lucky. as minority caucus chairman,
never thought OF trying TO lead the DEM
ocrats during the tariff session of the
elst congress. His successor, Mr.. Money,
OF Mississippi was never the minority
leader.
The caucus chairman is the caucus
chairman-thats all. His only function
is to appoint the members OF the steer
ing committee and to call and preside
over the conferences Of his party coli
leagues.
THE RECOGNIZED LEADERSHIP.
The recognized floor leadership of the
two great parties in the senate - usu-
ally rested in the hands of the ranking
members OF the finance committee. Thus
Senator Aldrich, chairman of the finance
committee was the majority leader so
long as he held this place. and Senator
Bailey, of Texas, was generally accept
ed as the minority leader, because upon
the death of Senator Daniel, of Virginia.
he became the ranking minority member
OF the finance committee.
Senator Germans leadership of the
Democratic party of the senate. during
his life, was due not to the ract tnat
he was chairman of the Democratic eau
Gus. but because he was the ranking
Democrat on the finance committee.
Emphasizing further this statement
about the leadership OF the senate, IL is
we'll enough to state that Senator Gull
lom. of Illinois, is chairman of the ma
toritv-the Republican caucus-but he is
IN no sense the Tl6puBACdh hOCA ANoNCA"
He presides over the conferences OF the
majority and appoints the steering COM
mittee.
In the house Of representatives, Mr..
Burleson. of Texas, is the majority eau
Gus chairman. but he is in no sense the
majority floor leader. Mr.. Underwood, Of
Alabama. is the floor leader of the Dem
ocrats, and he is the chairman of the
ways and means committee, which cor
responds to the finance committee of the
senate.
Representative currier. of New Hamp-
shire. is chairman of the Republican
caucus in the house, but he is not the
Republican leader by a long shot In the
last congress, Currier was the caucus
chairman, and Serene Payne, of New
York. the then chairman Of the ways
and means committee, was the Republ-
can floor leader.
In the present house, the title OF mi
nority floor leader rests with Represent
alive James r.. Mann. of Chicago, and
ordinarily he would be the ranking minor
ity member of the ways and means COM
mittee But Mr.. Mann preferred to be
unhampered by a committee place in his
leadership. so he voluntarily effaced HIM
self from all committees, to. devote his
entire time on the floor to making trou-
BILE for the Democratic majority.
WHY MARTIN WAS CHOSEN.
In choosing senator Maftln LOT the MI
nority caucus chairman, the Democrats
of the senate were guided by precedent.
Mr.. Martin and Senator Bacon and Mr..
TilIman. of South Carolina, are the old
est Democratic members of the senate
in point OF service. Mr.. Bacon declined
positively to accept the Craftsmanship OF
the caucus. Mr.. Tillman was too feeble 10
assume the responsibility, and II was
but natural that the party should turn
to Senator Martin. adhering to the prece-
dent OF seniority in the bestowal OF the
caucus chairmanship.
Messrs.> Bacon, Martin and Tillman en-