The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1911-12-05
LARGEST REPRESENTATION
Of DEMOCRATS IN SENATE
Forty Two Out of Total of 81 Senator'S Are
of The Democratic Faith Tariff Legislation
Will Be Topic of Much Speech Making
And Partisan Jugglery in
Upper House

Washington, d. c., Dec. ). - The
opening of the present session of con-
gress witnesses a larger number of
democrats in the senate than there
have been before in the past eighteen
years There are 81 senators, 49 OF
whom are classeo as republicans, AZ as
democrats, and there is one vacancy
from Colorado, where the democratic
Legislature adjourned last summer
without electing a successor to the
late Senator Hughes.
The republicans thus have a NOM
inal majority of seven, the smallest
they have had in many years, but it
is not such majority as they can de-
pend upon at any critical time when
important measures are pending. From
eight to thirteen of the 49 republicans
are insurgents of progressives, and
the number who will break away from
Iparty ties depends entirely upon the
character of the measures which may
be before the senate. At any time
that four of these insurgents leave
their party and vote with the solid
democratic minority, the combination
will become a majority, and will rule
the senate. 1t is anticipated that many
times during the present session.
which is likely to last well into next
June, there will be a democrat-insur-
gent alliance which place the nominal
republican majority in the senate in
a hopeless position.
Republican leaders are hopeful that
the democrats may find it difficult this
session to effect combination with
the republican progressives. Their
hope is based upon the fact that just
at the close of the special session the
democrats, finding themselves masters
of the situation in the senate through
the action of the republicans in volun-
/, tarily absenting themselves, promptly
abandoned their progressive allies,
: and passed several tariff bills which,
, of course, the president vetoed. These
! regulars hope that the insurgents will
J remember this action on part of the
; democrats, and that they will not here
t after be so willing to enter into negoti-
ations with the democrats. Still, upon
| many of the most important questions
; which will come up In the senate at
this session, it is more than likely that
. the democrats and insurgents will find
: common ground and will get together
: and put the regulars to rout
, Democratic strength in the senate is
: augmented by the appearance of Sen
ator Obediah Gardner. who was ap-
J pointed by Governor Plaisted of
. Maine, to fill out the unexpired term
of the late Senator Frye. Mr.. Gard
ners appointment is a direct gain of
one TO the democrats and direct loss
of one to the republicans. Two demo
Gratis now sit in the senate from the
former rock-ribbed republican state of
Maine. A second gain for the demo
Gratis over their condition during the
Hast three months of the special ses-
sion comes by reason of the fact that
Senator Hoke Smith, Of Georgia, will
take his seat. During the latter part
I.~f IL ryha N
. cratic insurgent combination sadly
, needed votes, there was one demo
cratic vacancy from Georgia which is
! now filled.
This condition of affairs is likely to
result at the outset of the election of
lSenator A. 0. Bacon, democrat, of
Georgia, as president pro tenn of the
senate. Following the retirement of
Senator Frye from that position few
months before his death the senate
was deadlocked over the election of a
president pro TEN. Nine insurgent re-
publicans refused to vote for the re-
publican nominee, Senator Gallinger.
Eight of them voted for Senator Clapp
and Senator Clapp himself voted for
Senator Bristow Senator Bacon sew
eral times during the voting mustered
more votes than did Senator Gallinger,
but not majority over all In view
o fthe fact that the senate oaa trans
act no business in the absenee of Vice
President Sherman, unless president
pro tenn is chosen, it is probable that
Senator Bacon may be elected. Other
wise whenever Mr.. Sherman chances
to be absent the senate must adjourn.