The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-04
EXTRA SESSION 4 GAME OF POLITICS Opinion of Politicians of
 Both Parties PRESIDENTS CHANGE To Redeem Himself in Eyes of the People-Democrats Trying to Force Many of the Issues
 to the Front
PRESIDENTS CHANGE
By RoDERIoK CLIFFORD

By RoDERICK CLIFFORD
 Washington, June -(SpeciaD-States- men and politicians of both parties in Washington agree that the present extra session of Congress has resolved itself into a game of politics. The whole program of legislation is shaped for us effect upon the results of the presiden- tial campaign of 1912.
 Ordinarily the regular sessions of Con sress just preceding the national cam paigns are made the opportunity Tor presidential Juggling. This time, how ever the manoeuvring has begun nearly q year ahead of time. This means that the 1912 campaign will extend over IS months. and that the country will be rgitated longer than during any presiden- nal fight since the second Jackson cam peign.
 It Is the obvious plan of the demo- cratic leaders in the House to force Issues on every political proposition now pending before Congress, or that may hereafter be presented. All of this Is a part of the game. Political capital must be produced at the expense of the re- publican party. Furthermore now Is the convenient time to produce 1t.
 On the other hand the republican lead CTS are engaged in similar manoeuvres. They appreciate the fact that they are on the defensive. The last Congressional election went against them It showed very plainly that the people had lost large measure of confidence in them and were apparently willing to try out the democratic party again.
 The tariff revision legislation Is. of course, the most important of that now before the Houses of Congress. This includes the presidents reciprocity bill. It includes the free list and also re- vision of the cotton and wool schedules. These are the issues upon which the democrats hope to go before the country next year
 It was by the democratic votes that reciprocity passed the House. It was by democratic votes that the free list was passed, and it will be by democratic votes that the cotton and wool revision will pass, If they do go through the House
 All of these measures have found the Senate a stumbling block. This body is still decidedly republican. It might be controlled by a fusion of democrats. in- surgent and near-insurgent republicans, but such a combination does not now seem probably It is bit too much to expect the democrats to win over enough republicans to recognize the Senate.
 This all means that the tariff legisla- ton will not have smooth sailing in the Senate It also means if reciprocity fails, if the free rst'' fails and if neither the wool nor the cotton schedules ar, revised, that the whole tariff question will be befSre- the country next yea in a stronger form than at any tim seiuee thef tariff -for-revenue-only fight ? yearsra ago.
 The democratic leaders are certain tha they can win the presidency on a plat form promising tariff revision, provided the republicans arbitrarily defeat all re- visinH movements in the present Con ,gfess. That is exactly why the Clark Underwood Bryan leaders are determined to hold Congress in session all summer If necessary to get a vote on the tariff measure in the Senate. They refuse to put off to be told that the regular ses- sion in December Is the appropriate time for the revision or that business Is suf- fering because of the constant agitation of the tariff question.
 While Congress, therefore, Is making campaign issues, the politicians both in and out of that body are getting their heads together on national candidates It Is true that the national conventions are fully a year off, but that Is not taken as a reason why the party ele- ments should not be brought together and organizations perfected.
 Many tickets are already proposed. For instance, there are the Taft and Cum nins; the Taft and Hammond the Taft and Stimson; Taft and Borah; Taft and Sherman. About everybody who follows the course of political events expects the president to be renominated by his party. The republicans may split but the bigger force will stand by Taft and put him at the head of the ticket The only real question: therefore, Is finding a vice-presidental candidate who can give strength to the head of the ticket
 On the democratic side of the proposi- ton. however, can be found three and perhaps four candidates, either one of whom might land the nomination. They are Governor Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey; Governor Harmon of Ohio; Speaker Champ Clark of Missouri and William J. Bryan of Nebraska. Already the two governors are in the running. They have been since the congressional elections last November, when both of them carried big republican states. Since MT. Clark became head of his party in the House he has been prominently to the fore and will stay there, if the House under his leadership provides winning Issues for the campaign.
 So busy therefore have democratic pol lticians been lining up for and against various candidates for the head of the ticket very little time has been given to democratic vice presidential timber. There are three possible candidates Former Governor Folk of Missouri Former Governor Floss of Massachusetts,, and Governor Baldwin of Connecticut They are wothry of consideration, and will un- doubtedly be considered one by one when the time comes to make the nomination
 It Is apparent now that with the ex- tra session of Congress making the is- sues for the campaign, the regular ses. sion which begins in December will be a short one. This means that the country will be plunged into political turmoil from four to six months ahead of time next, year It would not be surprisins If the regular session ended by early spring, allowing the members of Con gress to hurry home and prepare fol the supreme effort in November.