Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-04-13
Leaders No Longer Deny That
Both Political Parties Are
Badly Divided.
FOUR SECTIONS ALL At ODDS
Progressive Democrats and Re-
publicans Alike Are Playing
for Big Stakes in
Future.

Washington April at is daily be-
coming more manifest that Congress Is
facing a stormy session and no forecast
OF the probable legislative results can be
made The fact that both great political
parties are badly divided Is no longer
denied and the leaders appear TO have
little hope OF restoring more than surface
harmony.
There are virtually four parties working
at odds In the present session. The re-
publican minority OF tho House ls divided
between regulars and insurgents. as was
evidenced by tho vote In the spcakership
contest and the breach between these two
factions is even wider IN the republican
majority of the Senate.
A sharp llnc has been drawn between
the conservative democrats of the
Senate, who are opposed to arv at
tempt at dictation by William J. Bryan,
and the progressive democrats, inClud
Ing practically all the new members
and several veterans. like Senator
Stone of Missouri, who are Bryan adj
hercnts. The House democratic major
ity seems thus far to have escaped a
break, but the leaders that the party
conte in the Senate may at any time
spread to the other branch. The sit
uation has intcrfored with tho selec-
tion of committees and tho beginning
of Legislative work.
NEVER SUCH TNEASINESS.
Probably there never has been n Con-
sress where so much uncertainty existed
and where the uneasiness has been so
equally distributed between the two ma jor
political parties. of course this is due in
in power in the House and the republi-
cans in the Senate The real cause Of the
anxiety. however. is believed to be the
proximity of the party conventions that
will select the standard bearers for 1912
and to TIE knowledge that n slip by either
party during the present extraordinary
session or the regular session to follow
might determine the result of the next
national campaign.
There is no doubt that measures on
the subject Of direct election Of SEN
ators, publicity before elections of
campaign contributions Canadian rec
iprocltY, revision of the wooden and
cotton schedules, and any further tar
If changes the majority desires will
be sent TO the Senate in whatever or
der is derreed by the ways and means
committee. Tho real legislative prob
lem, therefore. will be in the Senate.
only time will tell what sort of line
up there will lie in the Senate on tariff
matters. Tho division in the upper
House is peculiar. OF the 30 republic
cans II have practically formed a
separate organization. They have de-
mandcd and probably viii get ono
fourth Of the majority committee
places or the Al democrats, 40 when
Colorado elects. Il are on record as
being opposed to Senator Martin Of
Virginia as minority leader. They felt
that he was too conservative.
The division in the dcmocrati, ranks
was made more pronounced by an inter-
view given by Mr.. Bryan yesterday, de-
plorins the election of Mr.. Martin
CONSIDERATIONS CAN HINDER.
If there is any disposition on the part
Of conservatives in both parties to work
together to prevent any radical revision
Of the tariff, IT is conceded that they will
he able to do SO The progressives of both
parties however, will not hesitate Ia
widen the Eulf between the factions in
their parties. for they have announced
that they are playing for future stakes.
snd supreme stakes at that
Leaders of both parties were asked
yesterday for an expression of opinion
rs to what might be done Not one
would hazard a prediction. One repub-
lican of the old guard who had alwa IS
helped to make up the party policy,
replied succincuy;
You can guess as we'll as | can"
President Taft to-day authorized de-
NAL of n rumOr that he might take ad =
vantage Of his constitutional power to
adjourn Congress as soon as the reel
procity bill was enacted.