The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-10
HUGHES STANDS HIGH
 W|H LABOR CLASSES
Interest Manifested in Demo
 cratic Caucus
WILSON'S CLOSE CALL
Every Member of the House By Name-Assist Taft in Pro-
 gramme of Economy
BY RoDERIcK CLIFFORD


 Washington. January 9.-(Special.)-No member of the House stands higher with | labor organizations than Representative William Hughes of New Jersey He is one of the few members of the House who is on the honorary roll of labor or ganizations. Last session he made la bor play that had the effect of changing the political complexion of a few seats I in the House, at least he is so credited by members who were defeated. When the sundry civil appropriation bill was up last summer the New Jersey repre- sentative offered an amendment to the item in the bill authorizing the depart | ment of justice to prosecute all violations of the Sherman antitrust law. His | amendment prohibited any part of the appropriation from being use to prevent any labor organization or individual from entering combination for the purpose of increasing wages or bettering conditions of labor, where such act was not in it. self in violation of law This amendment provoked warm discussion. but was adopted, a number of republicans voting for it. In the Senate it was rejected,
  struggle The record vote on the Hughes amendment was sent broadcast by the democratic congressional cam paign committee, and in the western states where labor organizations are strong, the Hughes amendment made thousands of votes for the democrats Strange to say, it attracted but little at- tention in the east.
 "You can never tell how attempted leg islation to help labor will be received" said Representative Hughes the other day, :"but you may depend on 1t that it's influence will be felt where least ex- pected. Organized labor Is not asking special legislation. All it wants is the same consideration at the hands of the courts as organized capital"
 Much interest is manifested in the dem ocraitc caucus to be held in the hall of the House January 19, 1911. Already spec ulation is rife as to the outcome. Re publican insurgents and standpatters shake their heads knowingly, and say that when the members-elect who are spe- cially invited and for whose benefit the caucus is called, assemble and make in- ouiry about committee assignments they will be surprised to learn that the good places will continue to go to the old boys, and the new members will have to be satisfied with what they get.
 The committee on committees proposi- tion the more it is discussed by the old fellows who stand well up on the leading committees of the House. instead of gain ing adherents, seems to be losing ground, and the prediction is freely made that Speaker-to-be Champ Clark will, after all, have to take a hand in settling the ques- ton of chairmanships. AS veteran ot the House said today, an attempt to al vide the power of committee selection among 15 members of the majority will end disastrously.
 Aside from an attempt to arrange a tariff programme for the next House, the chief end of the democratic caucus VIII he to secure harmony fin the House organ ization.
 Representative William A. Rodenberg of illinois. referring to his colleague, Will liam w. wilson, of the Third Illinois con pressional district, in the republican cloak room the other day, said: You see, my friend wilson was not looking for close race this time, as he carried ms oise.ice two years ago by nearly l0,Voo majority Rut while some of us did not altogether helieve the democratic prediction or landslide, still deemed 1t wise 10 keep an eve to the windward. However, the iand- slide touched up the corners of my friend wilson's district all right, Tor when the votes were all In and counted II was found that he had just pulled through py 57 majority.
 ponresentative John N Garner of Tex as. the democratic whip, who has hiled that responsible office successfully, mas tba distinction of knowing personally eV- cry member in the House. ana can caii them by name. This is particularly so with democrats. He has to know tnem' fo, if is part of his office. AS whip NIT. Corner must keep posted on every move made hv republican leaders, so that the minority will be present when a vote IS ordered The whip must see that absent damocrats are provided with pairs to pro- feet them on the roll call. In the recent campaign Mr. Garner was the oniy mem her of the Texas delegation who hao to make a fight The republicans set ,yt pop ,,,ist against the whip, with the result that instead of taking his election TOT sranted the member from the F1fteentn Texas district got out and campaigneo ir avery one of the 25 counties except Zapata. This county belongs 10 the re nuhIicans. It is composed chierly or heN- icans who vote as directed by the poss. Tt'a 1cams +e,, a story to the effect that four weeIs in advance the boss Of Zapata ca, tell to a man what the vote Of that county will be. Last November 1t was 4oo Co., tbe nopulist candidate. But Garner ca rried his district by the biggest vote he ever received. It is common talk among the democrats that he will be unanimously re- elected whip for the next House. IL may he added that it is a job that requires work but the successful occupant soon hecomes a floor leader of large influence and for this reason there is more or less competition for it. The whip Is the man who can come pretty near telling In ad- vance just what fate will do 10 party measures
 There is a disposition on the part of most of the House members to neip president Taft in his programme oI economy. This has been shown m tne Consideration of appropriation bills; Inere are two members of the House-Mann or illinois. republican, and Macon or Arkan- sas d democrat, who believe that you can save much money in small matters They never lose the opportunity to m sert the pruning knife. which they do py making a point of order against increases in salaries recommended by the appro- nriation committee. It is estimated that thase two watchdogs of the treasury re- duced the amount carried in the last leg ,s,ative appropriation bill by several hum dred thousand dollars.