The Washington herald., 1911-04-05

Every Republican Senator, progressive
insurgent,. and regular, participated in
the party caucus that was held immedi-
ately after the session Of the Senate
yesterday, and the action, of the caucus
was harmonious throughout. 1t was a
brief affair. Senator Cullom was prompt
ly elected chairman, and Senator Curtis,
of Kansas, secretary Only three mat
tiers were passed by the caucus, namely,
the authorization of committee on COM
mittee assignments for Senators. a COM
mittse ons the order of business, or the
steering committee as it is commonly
called, and a committee to make an
equitable distribution Of patronage be-
longing to the majority of the Senate.
These committees will not be announced
until later. Senator Cullom. as chair
man of the caucus. will name the COM
mittees. Vice President Sherman will
be ex-officio chairman of the steering
committee
The insurgent or progressive Repub-
licans in the Senate, twelve in number,
had been almost continually in confer
ence since Monday night. Yesterday
morning they appeared at the Senate and
submitted their proposals looking to har-
mony in the new organization of the
Senate. Numbering twelve out of fifty.
they made a claim to one-fourth of the
patronage of the Senate, to one-fourth
representation on important committees.
and the right to decide for themselves
what the committee assignments Of the
twelve should be.
Demands Are Conceded.
- h.
were apparently disposed to concede these
demands in the interest of party har-
mony, and it was believed last night that
there would be no difficulty in the way
of harmonious action by the Republicans
in recognizing the Senate As a result
of the deal. all remote prospect for a
coalition between the Democrats and in
surgent Republicans, looking to a control
OF the Senate, disappeared. Under the
agreement the insurgents will get some
very important committee assignments.
They were claiming yesterday that both
Senators Cummins and La Toilette would
have places in the Committee on Finance,
and that La Toilette would go on the
Committee on Interstate Commerce in
addition. Senator Bourne, of Oregon,
will probably be chairman of the Com
mittee on Post-offices and Post Roads;
Senator Bristow, of Kansas, will be added
TO the membership of that committee;
Senator Brown: of Nebraska, will go
upon the Judiciary Committee, and alto
with good things.
The caucus had hardly adjourned yes
terday, however. before they were again
in conference 1t is understood that the
purpose was to arrange for the minor COM
mittee assignments and especially to
take care Of the new insurgents who ap-
peared in the Senate chamber as a re-
suit of the late election. Some of these
men have brought into the Senate life
friends feel that they should have fair
recognition. Senators Poindexter and
Gronna were promoted from the House
to the Senate, and Senator Works, of
California. played an important part as
a jurist in California before his election
to the Senate
Retains Good Post.
It is expected that Senator Cummins
will retain the Craftsmanship of the COM
mittee he now has on Civil Service. Sen
ator La Toilette is at the head of the
Census Committee, which is far from
being unimportant, but he may be ad-
vanced to the Craftsmanship Of the Com
Hllllcc vi ne Is also an
active member on the Committee on In
dian Affairs.
The twelve Republicans who elected
to stand up yesterday and be ciassed as
"Progressives," were Senators La Fol-
lette, of Wisconsin: Cummins, of Iowa;
Bristow, of Kansas; Clapp. of Minnesota;
Borah, of Idaho; Bourne. of Oregon;
Poindexter, of Washington: Gronna, of
North Dakota; Crawford. of South Da-
kota; Brown, of Nebraska: Dixon, of
Montana. and Works. of California.
Senator Gamble, of South Dakota, who
at times has voted with the insurgents,
and Senator Townsend. of Michigan, who
was confidently claimed as an insurgent,
did not inlist under the insurgent ban
ner. But it is admitted that the twelve
who banded together and asserted them
selves to be one-fourth of the majority,
and entitled to all the privileges and
of that numerical strength,
will be an important factor in the Senate
for the next two years IL they continue
to work unitedly. In fact it is gener-
ally admitted that they will hold the
balance of power between the Republicans