The Washington times., 1911-04-07
MARTIN PROBABLY
WILL Be LEADER OF
SENATE MINORITY
Progressievs to Cast Solid
Vote, Sixteen, Against
IL His Election.

When the Democratic Senatorial
caucus began at 2:30 this afternoon
there was every indication that the
fight between the progressive and con-
servative elements would be carried to
the vote on the selection of a minority
leader
Indications were that Senator Thomas
s. Martin would have about twenty
five votes for leader, and would be
chosen as against Senator Francis G.
Newland3, of Nevada, for whom it was
said the progressiVes had sixteen votes
pledged.
From the beginning, the progressives
have anticipated that they would prob
ably be defeated. Their position has
been all along that they wanted to
make their protest against tho selection
Of an ultra-conserNative just as en-
phatic as possible.
Some of them went so far as to urge
at conferences last night and this fore
noon that the entire body of progress
sives threatened to remain out of the
caucus unless the name of Senator Mar.
tin were withdrawn.
Register Vigorous Protest.
Others insisted that this would he an
unduly drastic procedure. and when the
caucus was called to order, this after
noon, while there were still some radi-
Gals who favored this proceeding, it was
generally believed that the progressives
would go no farther than 10 register
their view of the improperly of Sem
ator Martins selection and TO empha-
size it by voting against him.
The progressives by no means feel
hnN a.
feat.
We have made this fight" said one
of them, mot because we considered
that it vas necessary for US TO win,
but because we regarded il as duty to
make this situation in the Senate per-
fectly clear 10 the country
Last evening following series OF
conferences on both sides, some of the
progressives took the trouble to convey
TO their opponents the suggestion that
a victory for Senator Martin in these
circumstances might later prove a Sc
rious misfortune for him.
Injuries Martins Campaign.
They served notice that the progress
sives would under no circumstances vote
for Martin and pointed out that when
the State Of Virginia learned that every
progressive in the Senate, including all
or nearly all of the new members, abso-
lutely balked at the idea of supporting
the Virginia man the procedure would
not be calculated 10 strengthen Senator
Martin with his progressive constitu-
ents
Senator Martin is already in the midst
OF a campaign for reelection Represen-
ia tives Glass and Jones having an
nounCed themselves as candidates for
the Senate as against Senator'S Martin
and Swanson.
For Senator to be repudiated by the
entire progressive element or his party
IN the Senate, it was pointed out would
be about as poor a recommendation 10
the progresives at home as he could
we'll acquire.
Representatives Jones and Glass are
reported 20 have been greatly pleased
when II finally developed that Senator
Martin was going TO stay in the race,
and that the solid progressive Vote
would be cast against him. Their
friends declared that Jones and Glass
" Uould be thousands Of votes stronger
because of this turn of affairs.
BRYAN Counsels Progressives.
William Jennings Bryan, despite ef
forts of the conservatives to discredit
lis leadership and to charge him with
improper interference, stayed with the
ti-ht to the last, and strongly counselled
the progressives to stay by their guns
and vote for some other man than Sena
tor Martin, even though they were GER
tain to be defeated Mr. Martin is thus
nut in the position Of having been op-
posed not only by all the progressive
Senators, but by the titular leader of
his party.
The caucus this afternoon was
marked by a good deal of very plain
talking among Senators. The new
Senators have utterly declined to be
overpowered by the contemplate of
the splendor of Senatorial seniority.
Thev have insisted that man fresh
from the people with a siX-year term
of service ahead of him. is quite as
much entitled to entertain opinions
and express them in or out of caucus.
as men who may have been longer in
Congress.