The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-04-08

| Washingto IL 4.-The Sixty
| second CO. met in extraordinary
session - What the session will
bring in the way of legislation
or =. it will adjourn were matters
- -hch no one in Washington
! ed to venture an opinion.
The Democrats took full possession
| Of the house and put Champ Clark Of
| Missouri in the speakers chair. In
| his speech accepting the honor Mr..
Clark warned the Democratic mem
bers that the eyes Of the country were
| upon them; that the party was on
| trial, and that il had an opportunity
! for the first time in 16 years to prove
| its worthiness for still higher ex-
preston Of confidence on the part Of
| the American people.
Throughout the day shadows Of the
/ coming presidential fight hovered
/ about the capitol and there is no
question that manoeuvres for politi-
| cal advantage will play an important
part in the affairs Of the house and
the senate during the next few
months.
| William J. Bryan Of Nebraska and
| Gov. Harmon of Ohio were prominent
! figures on the floor during the open
ing ceremonies, and both shared in
| the Democratic demonstrations that
marked the day. Had Gov. Woodrow
| Wilson been present, the list Of gen.
| orally accepted Democratic presiden-
| tial possibilities would have been
complete.
The senate's opening was sedate as
usual. While the leadership of the
upper branch of the new congress re-
mains in Republican hands, the
change in the personnel Of those as
suming command was almost as
marked as in the house itself AID
rich, Hale, Beveridge and a dozen
others Of both the regular and pro-
gressive factions Of the majority
were missed.
| President Taft's message, dealing
with Canadian reciprocity, will be
read in the two houses Of congress
tomorrow. 1t was with the idea Of
securing action on this agreement
that the extraordinary session was
| called
The Democrats of the house have
formulated an ambitious programme,
which includes the revision of a num-
ber of the schedules Of the Payne
Aldrich tariff law
| Republican leaders OF the senate
have announced that there shall be
no tariff legislation at the extra ses-
sion. They declare they are not
alarmed at the threat Of the Demo-
Gratis TO hold back the reciprocity
agreement until action is secured on
several tariff bills.
This difference OF opinion promises
how long the Democratic house will
continue to lombard the Republican
senate with general legislation bills,
From a political standpoint il is
likely that one of the most important
things the Democratic house will do
will be to order a thorough investiga-
ton of the various departments and
branches Of the government service.
The Democrats claim that there
have been no such INVESTIGATIONS for
20 years, and much good campaign
material as we'll as much saving to
the people will result from them.
The Republican insurgents i'm the
house indicated their purpose of con-
tinuing their independent fight by
refusing to vote for Mr. Mann for
speaker and by giving their support
to Representative Cooper Of Wiscon-
sin.
The insurgents gained a member
when Representative Theron Aiken Of
New York, elected as an "ndepend-
ent Democrat" and heretofore car
ried on the Democratic rolls. cast his
lot with them and chose a seat on the
Republican side
| Representative Ec"eis ,WisD. the
sole Socialist in the house. voted
"prcscnr"durina tn epcakorship bal
loting. He als. .',.e p scat ON the
! Eepa'H..u Side. "' cause. ne after
wards explained. Il belong to the