The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-12-11
Party Leaders Count on Insurgent
Republicans to Vote for
~ Low Tariff.
INSURGENTS HOLD BALANCE
Margins Growing Narrow in This
Body Also-Stands A
To so.
BY WINFIELD JONES.

Washington, December 1.-THE
Democratic party is as firmly in con-
troll of the House of Representatives
during the present session of Con-
gross as it was during the extra ses-
sion, called by the president to pass
the reciprocity bill. This, party is
now stronger in the Senate than
previously even though New Mexico
sends two Republicans to the Senate.
Recent deaths in the membership
of the House and the more recent
elections have not changed the vote
in that body to any material extent.
When the House organized at the
beginning Of the Sixty-seeond Con-
gress there were 227 Democrats, 100
Republicans, one Socialist, and one
Independent on the rolls.
Since that time Representatives
MITCHELL of Kansas, Loudenslager
of New Jersey, Madison of Kansas
Latta of Nebraska, and Gordon of
Tennessee have died. Three of the
five were Republicans while the
fzNebraskau and Teuueseau were
Democrats. The two Democrats have
been succeeded by Democrats and
Mitchell was succeeded by a repre-
sentative of the same party, making
a gain of one Democratic vote in the
aggregate changes.
It was by reason of the coalition
of the Democrats and Republican in
surgents in the House that the House
leaders were able to override the
Presidents vetoes on the wool, cotton
and farmers free list bills This
same coalition is still possible in
that body. There are about 80 in
surgent Republicans whom the lead
ers can always count on for a low
tariff vote. There are at least 81
whom they depend upon for a vote
on the revision of the rules.
By Democratic-insurgent coali-
ton in the House it is still possible
to override veto, assuming that
the so Republicans are still willing
to rebel. By such a combination
252 votes could be polled and this
with the few scattering members
who occasionally leave the party res
ervation can nullify any presidential
veto.
A decidedly more Interesting, if
not more effective situation, obtains
in the Senate, where the two parties
are more evenly divided and where
the margin ,of difference between
them continues to narrow down with
each election.
When the Senate met On the
fourth of March there were so Re-
publicans and Al Democrats holding
seats in that body. But one vacancy
existed. That was in Colorado and
this still exists and will continue
to do so for another year unless a
special session of the Colorado legis-
lature is called in the mean time. !
Since March. however, Senator
Frye of Maine has died and has been
succeeded by Obidiah Gardner, a.
Democrat. This made the Demo-
cratic total AZ and the coming to
Washington of Hoke Smith of
Georgia who failed to take his seat
as the successor of the late Senator
Clay, during the extra session,
brings the Democratic strength up
to 43.
Considerable doubt still exists as
to the complexion Of the first legis-
lature of New Mexico. While it is,
on its face Republican, the insurg-
ents in that state say that they can
control enough votes on joint ballot
to combine with the Democratic
members and send one insurgent and
one Democrat to the Senate.
The. stalwart Republicans, how
ever, are certain that they can elect
both Senator's The contest probably
will not be settled until the 1egisla-
ture organizes and gets. down to
work. Should one more Democrat
come to the Senate from New Mexico
the total will grow to A while the
republican total will once more rise
to so. The death of Senator Frye
reduced it to 40.
Arizona is vet to qualify as state
and is expected to do 50 before the