The Washington times., 1911-03-06
ANTEBAILEY MEN
LINING UP FORCES
Progressive Democrats Con-
fer on Plans to Control
the Caucus.
LINE OF CLEAVAGE
CLEARLY DRAWN
Culberson Said to Be Assured of
Leadership If He
Wants Ii.

Progressive Democrats in the SEN
ate are determined to control the Sem
ate caucus which will choose a new
leader to succeed Senator Money of
Mississippi.
After Senator Bailey withdrew his
resignation and claimed a vtndica-
tion in his statement that he had the
assurance of the "ablest and most
conspicuous Democrats" in the body
that they agreed with him in oppo-
sition to the initiative, referendum,
and recall, it was rumOred that the
Texan would go so far as to ask for
the tltular leadership.
This caused a dozen informal con-
ferences of the progressives among
the old members and such new Sem
ators as are in the city
Culberson of Texas, Stone Of Mis-
souri,, and Clarke of Arkansas are
mentioned as candidates for the lead
ership. Certainly Culberson will be
the favorite if he will consent again
to stand for the place which he was
forced to resign on account of i'll
health His health is now much i'm
proved, and he may be persuaded
again to take the position.
May Have Dozen Votes.
Bailey will have probably eleven or
twelve votes, according to the pro-
gressives. If he sees that he cannot
muster more than that, the progress
sives believe he will endeavor to form
q combination to elect Bacon of
Georgia, or some other man friendly
to him.
The progressives prefer not to make
public statements until they have
agreed on their plan. They say, how
ever, that the Lorimer vote and the
Bailey-Owen controversy over the
Arizona constitution practically show
the line of cleavage between the pro-
gressives and tories. This same divi-
sion was indicated by the sigrratories
TO the telegram to Governor Colquitt,
asking him to decline Bailey's resig
nation. OF course, the whole stu
alton will be changed If it is found
that Bailey's resignation was actu-
ally effective: but few Senators are
inclined to hold this view.
Views of Owen.
Senator Owen of Oklahoma, who
brought, on the Bailey sensation by his
filibuster in behalf of Arizona, thinks
he has put the principle of direct leg
islation before the country as an issue.
He said today:
How can you pass thoroughgoing
corrupt practices act in any State where
the legislators are elected by a system
of corrupt practices, except by the eX-
ercise of direct legislation. or the initia-
tive and referendum? Will machine
legislators pass an act to destroy the
incubating machine that Matched them?
This is why all machine politicians
and all of the corrupt agents of the spe-
Cial interests try to howl down the ini-
tiative and referendum as 'vagaries' and
as 'populistiC. Some splendid, honest
men oppose this doctrine of direct legis-
lation because they do not realize its
importance in promoting good govern
ment They hate innovations and are
impatient with any proposed change.
They are blinded by prejudice.
The issue is on. The Peoples Rule
VS.. Machine Rule is the real issue. Ma
chine rule is the chief agency of the
special interests and of the System.
Bryan made the Peoples RuleEthe
first plank in the Democratic national
platform of 1903. Roosevelt has indorsed
It. Woe to the Democratic leader who
opposes the Peoples Rule. Nothing can
save him from sure defeat.
mo man can hope to be leader of
national Democracy who is wrong or
lukewarm on this issue"