Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-05
THIS SESSION
OF congress
j. TO. Be: LIVELY Y !. |
Tariff and Trust Questions
and Jockeying for Advan-
tage in 1912 Race Will be
4. Leading Factors.

Washington, D. c., Dec. A. 'The
most important session since the civil
war is the prediction made by many
democratic leaders for the first regu-
lar session of the Sixty-second con-
gress, which opened today. sE
Stirring days ahead" are fore
casted by republican members, and
on both sides of the big party line
members in the house and senate are
drawn up to fight out weighty prob
lens Of legislation in session that
will lead up to the presidential CAM
paign4 Of 1912. !. s-ss q
or Importance as to the bearing it
will! have on the approaching political
contest in the nation; Of particular in
terest because Of party differences
regulars and insurgents on the repub-
lican side; reactionaries and progress
ives among the democrats; and OF un-
usual significance because OF the
heavy legislative program, it is at least
certain that this will be one of the live
liest sessions of congress for many
years. s#
With the gavels falling in the house
and senate at noon, the tariff and the
trusts stood out as the most important
subjects for legislation with a big
fight assured in both houses. Many
other great questions confronting con-
gress, all of them to be approached
vigorously, include monetary reform,
ratification of arbitration treaties with
Nicaragua and Honduras; Alaskan
legislation, the election of senator's Dy
direct vote of the people, pension bllls
and the regular and permanent annual
appropriations, to be under the direc-
tion this time in the house by demo-
cratic committee.
All Looking Ahead to 1912.
While the legislative struggles are
in progress, politics is certain not to
be overshadowed. With the democrats
looking ahead with sanguine hope for
triumph at the polls next November,
and insurgent republicans striking out
in earnest to capture their party con-
yention. il possible; every move made
in either branch of congress from now
until adjournment will be thoroughly
considered from political as wall as
Legislative viewpoints. The political
not in Washington will soon begin to
boil. with the republican national COM
mittee meeting here December IL, to
be followed January by the demo.
cratic national committee. Selection OF
convention cities, choosing OF commit
tee chairmen who will, manage the big
campaigns and plans for the approach
ing party conventions and the subse-
ouent battle Of the ballots will attract
as much attention from the nations
LEGISLATORS as will the making Of the
nations laws.
Candidates in Both Houses.
To enliyen the political interest in
both houses there are candidates for
the presidency casting their shadows
across the horizon.
Champ Clark, the speaker Of the
house. already considered among the
democratic possibilities, may at any
time make presidential pronounce
to his colleagues; and Representative
Oscar w. Underwood, Of Alabama, the
democratic floor leader, also is talked
of throughout the country as presi-
Dental timber.
In the senate, Mr.. LaFollette already
has been proclaimed by progressive
republicans as their choice to wrest
the nomination from Mr.. Taft.
In the house the political interest
will he further complicated by the at
titude of Mr.. Bryan, who has quarreled
with Mr.. Underwood and branded him
az a reactionary and now criticizes
Speaker Clark in what many demo-
Gratis declare is an effort to cause a
breach between the speaker and the
majority leader of the house.
A0i4Iafi0n. s.g.sEfE II
The tariff legislative program will
follow the long awaited report Of the
tariff board which is expected to sub