Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-08-23
plasENSloN APPARENT AMONG
LEADERS OF PARTY IN
LOWER HOUSE.
UNDERWOOD LOSES CONTROL
OF FRAcTIous COLLEAGUES
President Taft May Have Played PeIi'
4 ties Better Than he Know Whom he
Called Special Session-RePubli-
cans See Campaign Advantage in
Present Situation.

cratic party IN the mouse OF 1eA'ieSs
tatives is apparently on the verge o.
dissension which will prevent it from
performing any work of permanent
value next winter. and bring 1t dowr
to the presidential! campaign IN con-
dition that will work to the advantage
Of its politica, opponents.
This is one result in few words, o.
the special session, now about to ad'
journ.
The discussions IN the republican
party. which brought about the forma
ton of the insurgent or progressive
movement are no more serious thaE
dissensions existing in the democratic
party. and only the adjournment OF the
special session mex, week can prevent
this fact from becoming generally
known almost Immediately.
Representative Underwood, of Ala
bama, democratic floor leader. has as
good as lost his control over the house
and this has given much point to the
attacks which W. J. Bryan has beer
making on him in the Commoner. AS
Indicating how serious the revolt
against Underwood is. it may be men
toned that Representative Hardwick
Of Georgia, who several DAYS ago pre-
pared d resolution Of adjournment
which ran counter to the plans OF Mr.
Underwood, was al once assured that
if ne were 10 introduce it perhaps
majority of the house democrats would
support it.
SIr. HarGwick was finally persuaded
10 withhold his resolution. on the
ground that the session will adjourn
in a few days anyway, ard that his
resolution could, therefore. serve no
helpful purpose for the party. but, on
the other hand. would confirm the
many ruInors OF internal dissensions
which have been heard SO frequently
during the las, few weeks.
Faetionaiism is Rife.
The trouble with house democrats is
that there Is so much personal. fac
,ionai. Bryan, and anti-Eryan feeling
among them. Mr.. Underwood repre-
senls the conservative faction and is
anti-B Bryan. This does not please the
radical Bryan men. VINO, however have
Underwood's place. Even Speaker
Clark could 10, do it. MIR. Under
wood is believed 10 be the only man
on the democratic side of the house
who can come within sunshot Of hold
ing the aEtagonistic forces OF the party
together, and if he should be discred-
tied. as seems inevitable. the party
viii be without responsible leader
during a long session OF congress in
which the great issues for presiden-
tia! campaign are to be whipped into
form.
The present special session OF con-
gress thus promises 10 have been the
best thing that could possibly have
happened to the republican party.
When President Tai. announced that
ne would cal! special session, nearly
all Of the leaders of mis- party predicted
taat he would quickly have cause to
regret his action. and they tried their
best 10 dissaude him from his purpose.
SO firmly convinced were such party
sta!warts Dis Senator Penrose of Penn
sylvana. Senator Lodge Of Massachu-
sets, Senator Nelson of Minnesota
and Senator Warren Of Wyoming that
me special session would be great
political blunde.. ;het they insisted t.
he very last that the president should
not call Il.
May Prove Master Stroke.
But ne president, while not trying
.or political advantage in the SPECIAL
session, which h. called solely because
Of the Obligations ne believed himself
to be under to Canada. on account OF
the reciprocity situa ton. seems to have
made poiitica! stroke Of master pro-
por ions. The democrats began the
special session With outward signs OF
perfect harmony, and many were the
compliments paid them and their lead
ers BY public men and the daily press
! it was SO complete change from tina,
| usually assumed by the democrats
when in authority, that it was a sub
ject for the widest and most favorable
comment. The special session began
- prl 1, and it will have lasted about
| four months ana a half at the time OF
| adjournnl ent. There has thus been
ample time for the democrats to show
their colors. They are 20 close the
| special session in state Of disorgani-
alton which promises little construc-
! tive work of value next winter and
Will work to the advantage OF the re-
publicans in the presidential campaign
/ Had there been no special session
and had the democrats of the house
therefore. come together for the frs,
, time next December, their lack OF rea
harmony might not have been apparen,
| during the five or six months OF the
session preceding the national conven.
lions. The result would have been 8
dem ocratic presidential nomination
with the entire party apparently in full
accord, and the republicans clearly a,
q disadvantage.
| President Has Removed Lid.
| But the president, by means Of the
special session, has removed the lid a
much earlier date. and by so doing
given his political party a campaign
advantage it otherwise would not have
had.
! One Of the chief sources of trouble
next winter for the democrats will bt
the tariff. During the present session
they gave the schedules only perfume
tory consideration, knowing the pfesi'
dent would veto all tariff bills. Blu
next winter they will know that h
will be ready to sign all bills which d.
not abandon the protective principle
This situation will bring about q sharl
division between the protective ant
tariff for revenue democrats Of tn
lhouse and emphasizes the tact that ~