The Washington times., 1911-06-03
Democratic Organization and
Unity Past Understanding
of Minority Leaders.
WOOL WAS BANKED ON
TO START BIG FIGHT
G. o. P. Rulers Hope Bryan De-
Election Will Spell
Disaster.

The spectacle of perfect organiza-
ton among the Democrats in the House
Is the thing that is worrying the Re
publican leaders as they contemplate
the 1912 situation. The latest example
of what organization can accomplish
Is afforded by the House Democratic
caucus on the wool tariff.
In this instance the members on the
Democratic side, seemingly divided
hopelessly, went into a meeting and,
Instead of throwing brickbats and COM
ing 10 blows. got through a resolution
On which both the friends and the enc
mics of a duty on raw wool were able
to stand and present at least a SEM
blance Of peace and unity.
1t had been hoped by the Republic
ans that the Democrats would split
Irreparably over the question OF a tarin
on raw wool The Republicans, there
fore, are deeply disappointed over the
outcome. They are beginning to fear
that the Democrats are not going to
make any bad breaks prior TO 1872, and
that the result will be the election Of a
Democratic President, a Democratic
Senate, and another Democratic House.
Split Under Surface.
Shrewd observers perceive, of course,
that the Democrats are in reality badly
split over the question Of tariff. More
particularly, there Is a wide division
of opinion over the question of free
raw materials. But from the standpoint
of practical politics the question that
is facing the Republican leaders Is
whether The Democrats are going to
be able to conceal their differences in
the main until after the 1872 campaign
Some Indications are given that the
Democrats will be able to do this The
House Democratic leaders in particular
are bending every effort in this direc-i
ton. That is why they are so mad at
Bryan for stirring up the free raw
wool issue.
Bryan, Of course, has no patience
with the doctrine of protection dis
guised either as a duty on raw ma
terials or as tariff for revenue. And
out in meeting just when Underwood,
Clark, ct al want the House Democrats
to gumshOe along quietly and create no
needless perturbation about issues.
But having fol, the time 9uieted
hope there will be peace AS the re-
suit of their efforts. most of the House
Democrats are fully convinced that the
one thing of supreme importance now
is to have the Democratic party win in
1912, and that for that reason individ-
uals should subordinate their views,
and promote the party welfare That
is why the leaders are able to call eau
cuses on important matters. and bind
practically the entire Democratic MEM
bership to a certain course Of action
Insurgents Protest.
Republican members Of the House, es-
pecially the Insurgents, are protesting
against the rule of caucus by the Demo
Gratis. They insist that the sway OF
the Democratic leaders in the House
today, though in different form, is just
as tyrannical as the rule OF Cannon.
They say the steam roller was never
applied more ruthlessly in the days
of Cannon than it is being applied by
the reigning forces in the House. They
say that through the medium Of the
caucus the control of the House by d
small coterie of leaders is made pos
sibIe, and that this is just what is hap
pening.
But, however much kicking there
may be among insurgents. Republican
or Democratic. against the method or,
rule BY caucus, it looks as though this
method would continue in the House
for the present. So long as the Demo-
cratic end of Congress is convinced the
party is going to win in 1912, differences
of opinion will be sunk to consider
able extent At least, tEis is what Is
happening in the House. IN the Senate.
there is less 3ign that the cry Of har-
mony in order to win in 1912 will con-
troll Senators. Already, the Senate
Democrats are split on reciprocity, and
If general tariff revision comes up,
they will be more badly divided.