The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-06
PARTY SPLIT MAY !.
ELECT DEMOCRAT
Minority Likely 10 Name Prcsi-
dent Pro TEN. OF the

Washington. May 5.-A Democra tic
president pro tempore of the Republ'
can Senate is not beyond the realm Of
possibilities
II is possible because OF the split in
the Republican ranks, n split which
became most pronounced during the
making of the committee assignments
and which has broken out again in
connection with the election of a
president pro tempore to succc ell
Senator Frye. of Maine
Whether or not a Democratic Scnat or
Will be made president pro temper.
depends entirely upon the Insurgents.
If thcy stand together they can force
1t, and without uniting with tile Demo-
Gratis in the election
At present the Senate Is divided ns
follows: ThirtS-seven regular Reruh-
leans, thirteen Progressive Republic
cans and fOrty-one Democrats 4
Suppose the Regulars vote for Sem
ator Gallingor, as they intend: that the
Insurgents vote for Senator Clapp, as
is proposed. and that the Democrats
vote for Senator Bacon, as they intend.
Mr.. Bacon Will get tho most votes, and
II plurality is to control he would
be elected.
Bncon Would Have Majority.
Or suppose the Regulars cast thirty
seven votes for Mr.. Gallinger. and tile
Democrats cast forty-one votes for
Air. Bacon, and the ProgressIves re-
frain from voting, rather than vote
for Mr.. Gallingor. MIR. Bacon would
then receive n majority Of the votes
cast, and unquestiona bly, would be
elected. 1t has been suggested that
the Democrats and Progressives might
unite on one candidate-either Senator
Bacon or. Senator Ciapp--and their
combined votes would easily elect him.
The Democrats say. however. they
would not support a Republican, and
several OF the Progrcssives who were
seen too day indicated they could not
vote fora Democrat; so that suggestion
is not much considered
Tho thirteen proErcssivcs lin the
Senate have held no conference look .yE
to united action in the matter, and
some of the more conservative among
question OF sufficient importance to
make united tight.
II is known, however. that some OF
the insurgents who had ambitions for
committee assignments which tho com :
mittHe on committees headed by Sen /.
ator Gallinger, did not grstify are
blaming Mr.. CiallinEcr and arc tark Ing
Of not supporting him for president
pro temporo. Others OF the progress
sivcs who arc satisfied with their con-
mittec assignments. however, lind no
fault with Mr.. Gallingcr--in fact. he :
lievn he would make an excellent pre-
siding officer.
Should those of the prosressives who
do not want to support Mr.. Galllnger
try to force the issue il Is believed
there might be a split among the pro-
gressives Some Of them say tina t
they would not support a progressive
candidate. II they knew that course
would result in tho election OF a Dem
ocratic President pro temporc
The Regulars will need five votes TO
beat ont the Democrats on plurality
vote or ten votes to get majority oil
the entire Senate.
Talk Of the election of a President
pro temporc has brought up the ques-
ton as to whether majority vote
is REQUIRED or only n piuari,y. Those
around tho Senate who arc familiar
with Its presidents say there is no
precedent to govern tho case.
In the past the caucus nominee has
been supported By all the members OF
the party when the election cane In
the Senate, hut The action of The In
snrGents in the case OF tho committee
4 assignments. when they protested to Inc
Senate The action OF the Republican
caucus. gives ground for hcllcf they
might carry their night into tho Sen
ate In the ma tier OF elecllng The prcyl-