The Washington times., 1911-01-27
DEMOCRATS SEEKING
NORTHERN SUPPORT.
Southern Members of House
Ways and Means Commit
tee In Quandary.
CANNOT AFFORD
TOLOSE SUPPORT
Sectionalism Coming to the Front
In Naming of Various
Chairnen.
By TUDSoN c. WELLIvER,

With the purpose of maintaining an
equal balance between North and
South, the Democratic caucus placed
seven Northern and seven Southern
Democrats on the majority side of the
Ways and Means Committee, which
will name the committees of the next
House. But how are the committees
to be made up, with view to main
tanning the same equitable proportion
in geographical distribution?
There is the big question before the
new committee. By right of seniority
in service, Southern Democrats would
come into the chairmanships of about
all the important committees. Both
Southerners and Northerners know this
would not do. Already there is develop
ing evidence of feeling between the two
sections.
Just as New England has for many
years welded a disproportionate influ-
ence in the Republican party, and fin
ally contributed largely to breaking He
control, so the Democrats fear that
too much power in the South may have
a similarly unfortunate effect on the
Democracy.
South Heads the Minority.
Take the great committees of the
House, and a glance shows that Demo-
Gratis from the South head the minor
ity sides of almost all Underwood of
Alabama is senior member of Ways
and Means, Livingston of Georgia of
Appropriations. Clayton of Alabama on
Judiciary, Padgett of Tennessee on
Naval Affairs, Moon of Tennesk ee on
Postoffices, Thomas of North Carolina
on Public Buildings, Byrd of Mississippi
on Public Lands. Sparkman of Florida
on Rivers and Harbors, Lloyd of Mis-
souri, on Territories, Smith of California
on Rules, Richardson of Alabama on
Pensions, Sulzer Of New York on Mill
tary Affairs, Spight of Mississippi on
Merchant Marine, Smith of Texas on
Irrigation, Jones of Virginia on Insular
Affairs, Howard of Georgia on Foreign
Affairs, Shackelford of Missouri on
District of Columbia, Pujo of Louisiana,
on Banking and Currency, Lamb of
Virginia on Agriculture.
The North gets very poor showing
in that list: and among the minor COM
mittees, second and third rate, ii does
little better. Should the seniority rule
prevail, the North would have little to
do with shaping legislation.
Must Gain in the North.
1t is recognized that such a gerry
mander of influence would be ruinous
If the Democrats are to win, they must
hold their big gains in the North. They
must give new Northern men a chance
on committees, voice in making meas
ures. How to do that is the problem
Men utterly without legislative expert
ence will come largely from the North.
There are enough Of them, but they
don't know the game.
In the serious business of framing
matters to capture Northern support,
however, 1t is necessary to jolly the
North along; TO give ii taste OF power
and Importance; particularly. to over
come the prejudice against Democratic
control on the ground that it means
The fact is" said leading Demo-
crat, that we must win, If at all, in
the North; yet the North suspects that
Southern legislators are not very cap
and we all recognize it. We have it to
face. and are trying to look it sQuarely
In the eye. There is some injustice in
It, but 1t can't be ignored. Few men
have had the responsibility of being
members of the majority: none, think,
Of anything like important positions
under a Democratic organization of the
House"
Ask Individual Preference.
The new Ways and Means Committee
is considering a plan of asking every
Democrat to send a statement of his
preferences in committee assignments,
together with an explanation of his
reasons for considering himself equipped
for them. That being secured from
every member, it would then decline to
receive any further communications or
statements, but would betake itself to
a. large, dense seclusion, and do its work
of framing the committees and accumu-
lating enemies.
There are going to be heartburnings
and enmities as result of the new as
signments. There are threats that in
the effort to put the party solidly to-
gether, it may be split hopelessly apart
Can't be helped. The men who have been
given the responsibility want to make
the next House just as non-sectional
as possible.
They hope to divide the first-class
committees about equally between the
sections; the second and third class
ones ditto; and it is a task to make
gods weep and men mourn!