The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-13
~
SENATOR MARTIN"
Is MADE LEADER
shively, Who Was Really Not a
Candidate, Received Sixteen.
Virginian Empowered to Or
ganize Committee Insur-
gents" Given "RebuKe.

WASHINGTON. D. c., Special
senator Thomas 8. Martin. Of Vir-
gtnia, was elected chairman OF the
Democratic caucus of the Senate yes
terday afternoon. The position car
ries with il the minority Ieadership
or that body. Mr.. Martin secured
twenty-one votes. as against sixteen
diana.
Three Senators were absent on ac-
count Of illnessHShively OF Indiana.
T1llman, of South Carolina, and Ter
rell. Of Georgia Senator Martin is a
conservative, and was opposed by che
trlendS and followers OF William ]
Bryan and certain so-called ''prORres-
sive Democrats" led by Senator Stone.
OF Missouri, and Senator Owen. of
Oklahoma But Senator Martins cleo
ton, while a triumph for a reunited
and aggressive Democracy and a re-
Duke TO insurgency, was not entirely
free from other considerations
Voting Causes Surprise.
All or the Southern Democrats ex-
cept one, Senator Smith, of South
Carolina, supported Mr.. Martin. Some
Of the Northern Democrats who have
not been classed as "insurgent." like
Senator O'Gorman. OF New York.
voted for Senator Shively. On the
other hand. Senator Culberson, of
Texas, who IL generally classed as q
progressive" or insurgent. and
whose name was under consideration
at one time by the Bryan Senator's Tor
the minority leadership. voted for SEN
ator Martin. 1t Is known that Sena-
tor Shively was favorable to Senator
Martin, and probably would have
voted for him had he not been. de-
tained by illness.
There are forty-one Democrats com
prising the minority of the Senate.
Everyone OF them was present yes
;erday except the three heretofore
named, who were absent on account
Of illness. Senator Martin refrained
rom voting on the chairmanship
Unanimous for Other OFFICERS.
Except Tor the Craftsmanship, the
action OF the caucus was unanimous
as 10 the other officers. Senator B. +.
Shively. Of Indiana. was reelected
vice chairman and Senator William
K. Chiffon. of West Virginia. secre-
tary. without opposition and by ac-
clamation.
Chairman Martin was authorized to
appoint a committee of nine on re-
organization of the committees of the
Senate This committee will also be
endowed with other powers, and Il is
possible that later a committee on
legislation may be appointed. Senator
owen, OF Oklahoma. made an fnef-
'tectual EFFORT to pass a resolution tax
ing the appointment OF the committee
on committees away from Chairman
Marin. MT. owen outlined a plan of
lividing the minority Senators into
three classifcations. based on senior
Ity.
Mr.. Owens resolution brought out
a shower of disapprOving remarks.
Its author suggested in introducing Il
that IL was copied mainly from the
proposals submitted in the caucus on
former occasion by Senator Bailey
OF Texas. This brought. Mr.. Bailey. to
his feet, and he argued with some
spirit against the value Of precedents
In such matters. The opposition was
so strong that Senator owen finally.
withdrew the resolution.
How They Voted.
The. vote was as follows;
For Senator Martin-Senators Bacon
Bailey, Bankhead, Bryan, Clarke, of Ar
kansas; Culberson; Chiffon. Fletcher,
eostsr' eosts' IShnsten' ,oysrm9n' PaSynter;
maryland; swanson, Taylor. Thornton,
Watson and Winiams-2I
Davis. Gore. Hitchcock. Johnson. OF
Maine; Kern Lea. Myers. MARITIME. New
lands, owen, OGorman. Pomerene,
Reed. Stone. Smith, OF South Cnrolina-i
There was a surprise when Senator
O'Gorman. or New York. voted. with the
there was when Senator Culberson. OF
Texas. Joined his colleage, Senator
RalleN in support OF Mr.. Martin. +.
The caucus was In session about two
hours and half. The Bryan followers
kept up their fight until the last ditch.
They held two separate conferences.
turing the morning. For Week they
have been considering either Sena toE
stone or Senator Culberson for chair
man. They were somewhat shocked
yesterday when they learned that Sena-
tor Culberson was going |to,~vote for
Senator Martin. Finally. within an
hour OF the caucus. they agreed upon
Senator Newlands as their candidate.
but after the vote was. taken there Was
much surprise to find that after going
into the caucus they had scratched
Senator Newlands name and snbstl-s
Feared Opinion >Of Gounxry.
senator owen, OF Oklahoma. one. OF
the progressives. issued sta tement at
the close of the caucus In which he said
that while Senator Martin himself
claimed to be a progressive. .Ethese who
leadership did so because fhey fea red
that the country. might feel that Sena-
tor Martin would not be ~regarCled. as
progressive as the country had p right
20 expect of the leader OF. the( Senate
We shall expect the. country to be
aEreea hiN disappointed in this ma tter't
said Senator Owen There are Rt1aast,
twenty-five or twenty-three militant
progressive Democratic Senator's fSilc
are goinsS 10 do things. and trust. ard.
believe that even those DemOcr: fif
Senator's who have not heretoforts 1bccn
regarded as In, complete sympathy with
the national platform via he found he
be in the Senate party united in sDifit
and In common phrpose to control the
special interests OF this country and
restore the rights Of the common peo-