The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-04-10
VIRTUALLY FOUR PARTIES EXIST
AMONG DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS.
BRYAN PUTS FOOT IN It.
"Peerlcss Leader" Puts Damper on
Democratic Enthusiasm by DepIor.
ing Choice Of Senator Martin For
Floor Leader Of Senate Minority
House Program is Apparently Safe.

Washington, April 9.---It IL daily be-
coming manifest that congress Is fac
ing a stormy session and there can
be no fore, ast Of the probabilit es The
fact that both OF the great political
parties are divided is no longer de-
med. ana the leaders appear To have
little hope Of restoring more than sur
face harmony.
There are virtually four parties
each with a large representation
working at odds III the present scs-
sion. The republican minority of the
house Is divided between regulars and
insurgents. as was evidenced BY the
vote on the spcakership contest The
breach between these tao factions IL
even wider In the republican majority
of the senate.
a sharp line has been drawn be-
tween the conservative democrats Of
the senate who are opposed to any
attempt To dietation by William j.
Bryan. and the progressive democrats,
including practically all the new mem
bcrs and several veterans like Senator
herents. The house democratic ma
Jority seems to have escaped q hreak,
hut the leaders fear the party con-
test In the senate may at any time
spread to the other branch. The stu
alton has interfcred with the selec-
tion of committees and the beginning
of legislative work.
Uncertainty and Uneasiness.
Probably there never has been
congress where so much uncertainty
existed and where the uneasiness has
been so equally distributed between
The two major political parties. or
course. this is due In part 10 the fact
that in the present congress the dem
ocrats are In control of the house.
The real cause of the anxiety IL
believed TO be the proximity of the
party conventions which w.il select
the standard bearers for 1912, and the
knowledge that a slip by either In the
extraordinary session or the regular
session may determine the result of
the next national campaign.
So far as the administration pro-
gram IL concerned. there IL no room
for speculation. President Taft has
recommended the enactment of the
legislation to carry out provisions of
the Canadian reciprocity agreement
and 1t IL no secret he would be glad to
have congress stop at that and defer
the question OF further tariff rev.
sion until the regular session next
winter.
Neither Is there any obscurity about
the program of Speaker Clark, Rep
resentatire UnderwoodS chairman of
the new ways and nHans committee,
and other democrats who are directing
the policy OF the house. Their plan
for progressive legislation has been
given out.
In Prospect.
Now that the new majority IN tlfc
house has adopted rules giving II lust
as much power as any majority ever
enjoyed, there Is no doubt that meas
ares on the subject of direct election
of senators. publicity of campaign
contributions before elections, Canad.-
an reciprocity, revision of the wooden
and cotton schedules, and any further
thrift changes the majority desires
wlll be sent to the senate in whatever
order is decreed by the ways and
means committee, Tho republicans
viii be powerless to prevent. The
real legislative problem. therefore, will
be at the senate end OF the capital.
Previous sessions have indicated that
there are just us ardent protection
ists In the democratic representation
as In the republican, and like sit
station may develop when tariff aues-
rinns are taken up at this session.
The division In the senate Is pc
cniinr. Or the so republicans there
are ~ VINO have practically formed
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