The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-08-21
SENATE DEMOCRATS AT ODDS
PROG OGRESSIvES NOT PLEASED
AT THE NEW COMBINATIONS.
They Propose 10 Have a New WORKING
Agreement With the Insurgents at the
Regular Session on a Tarin and ON an
Antitrust Legislation Programme.

Antitrust Legislation Programme.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 2o.-There is an
eruption in the ranks OF the Democrats
in the Senate on account OF the quiet
understanding between some of the regu-
lar Republicans a,d the conservative
Democrats by which the leadership OF
Senator Ia Toilette was eliminated and
the Democrats were able to pass their
Legislative programme on the tarih last
week. IL Is very evident that not all the
Democratic Senators were let into the
secret by which certain regular Republi-
cans refrainei from voting and per
mitted the Democrats to carry through
the House free list bill, thus taking the
insurgent Republicans completely una
ware and disarranging the plans of the
emocratic-insurgent coalition. which
had been debating tariff legislation under
the direction of Senator La Toilette.
There is a large and demonstrative ele-
ment in the Democratic party OF the
Senate. led by men like Senators Stone
and Reed Of Missouri Williams Of Missis-
sippi. Pomerene Of Ohio and Kern Of
Indiana. These men call themselves
progressive Democrats" They made "A
demonstration at the time Senator Martin
was chosen minority leader aud tried
to defeat him. Generally they are fol
lowers of william Jennings Bryan. This
influence is to the Senate Democrats what
Representative Ollie James and his follow
ing are 10 the leadership Of Representative
Underwood, chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee in the House.
These Senate Democra Is have been die
gruntled since the collapse of the Senate
coalition. There has been much muir
, muring and several Of them have been
going to Senator La Toilette apologizing
and explaining since the Wisconsin
Senator was unhorsed last week. The
result Of the uprising has been the declara-
ton made by several of the Bryan Demo
| Gratis that when the regular session of
Congress convenes there will be a new
working agreement between the so-called
progressive Senators" both Democratic
and Republican, on legislative pro-
gramme that will comprehend not only
the tariff legislation but the antitrust
| legislation.
Some of the more radical Democrats
| in the Senate assert that there IL clearly
a working agreement between the con-
servatives of both political parties in
Il
radical legislation. The effect Of this
new combination among the radicals,
which is in process of formation, may
bring about the passage Of some sweep
ing tariff and antitrust bills. The Demo-
| Gratis are coming back to the regular
session with a plan for the general re-
vision Of the tariff schedules.
Senator La Toilette and his insurgent
followers will he in sympathy with the
programme. Mr.. La Toilette has already
introduced a sweeping antitrust bill
enlarging the scope of the Sherman law
which was outlined in the press des-
patches published to-day. Senator Ken
yon of Iowa another insurgent intro
duced bill early in the session intend ing
to make more stringent the penal pro-
visions OF the Sherman act and des gned
to make jail sentences for trust offenders
the rule rather than the exception in con-
victions obtained by the Government
The Senate has already authorized the
Committee on Interstate Commerce to
begin hearings in November and conduct
an investiga tion to determine just what
legislation is needed to strengthen the
antitrust laws and to further regula te
commerce. The committee of which
Senator Clapp of Minnesota. an insurgent
Republican, Is chairman. has been clothed
with power TO summon Witnesses. compel
testimony and require the production of
papers. II is believed that the investi-
| cation will be a very thorough one and a :
| a result legislation will be proposed I
the regular session which may embody
| some of the features of Senator La Fol
lette's hill as well as that introduced by
Senator Kenyon.
The Democratic Senators who have
been working with Senator La Toilette
are thoroughly in sympathy with the pro-
posed investigation by the Senate Com
mittee on interstate Commerce.