The Alaska citizen., 1911-01-02


 as the l. suit of the political land slide in he recent elections?
 The question has many interesting answers The Democrats have come into control af CT an unbroken par- iOi of sixteen years of Republican rule in the house. ani the complete upheaval that is to take place in the control of Commit.e s, the dumin- ation of legislation, and the busting Of Republican leaders is well under stood wherever the congressional elections have attracted attention. A party can become deeply rooted in positions of honor and profit in six teen years. Before Thomas B. Reed urpauI4el the Fifty-fourth congress, in 1895. political fortunes had been variable The Democrats had a run of luck from 1875 to 1880. Then the Republicans took control fer one session, and Speak CT Keller Of Ohio. ran things. In 1888 the Democrats again organized the house. and John c. Carlisle pre- sided as speaker from 1888 10 1889
 Democrats Win in 1891.
 The Republicans again took charge in that year. but Reeds first term as speaker ended in 1891, when the D n ocrats again won. They held the house under Crisp until 1895. Then Reed came back. bringing with him Ash C. Hinds. now the recognized authority on parliamentary preC Cedent in congress. and bringing with him also an era of R publican fortune which ran through his own two terms as speaker; the two terms of David B. Henderson. of Iowa. and the four terms which Uncle Joe Cannon vii close with best wishes for the en my. next March.
 In sixteen years a party can be come convinced that il holds commit tee chairmanships and congressional jobs almost by divine right. The years have been an and hungr5 ones for the Democratic minority. and its workers and supporters, but no leaner and hungrier than the next few years of D mOcratic control will be for Republicans. Men like Canon, Sereno F. Payne, John Dwight John Dalzell, Walter l. Smith and others whose names have been identified with much of the legislative ani political procedure of the last few years. will suffer eclipse. New names. Democratic ones. will dominate the history of the house.
 There is great organization built up around the house of repre- sentatiyes, that felt it's foundations crumblng away as it read the news of sweeping D mOcratic victory last week. Democratic control of the house carries with it more than the chairmanships. and the hCnors that are to be bestowed by the prOspec- tive speaker, Champ Clark, upon his Democratic colleagues. It carries with il a multitude of perquistes and appointments for which the Demo- crats have been waiting patiently.
 There are positions to be filled which afford larger salaries and pleasant employment New clerks will serve the new Democratic chair man of committees.
 New elective officers will run thc affairs of the house.
 New doorkeepers. new messenGers pages. cl rks and employees of all sorts will come into office under the Democratic regime. In fact. there are over 515 positions aggregating a payroll Cf some SG95.000 annually, connected with the administration of the national house of representatives
 Spells System Supreme.
 Congress is one branch of the fed eral government where the garlands are kept green about the motto, ITO the yiCtCrs belong the spells" The principle has been recognized in ap- pointments 10 positions under the house organization as thoroughly as it has been in the busting of the defeated party from the control of the committees and the management of legislation In a term of service as long as the Republicans have had this time, however, a sort of civil service becomes established which brings many disappOintments when it's smooth course is disrupted by political defeat.
 The nemocrats will succeed to everything of value that the Repub licans have had in the house, with the exception of the members indi- vidual offices, the appointment of their private secretaries and the seats on the floor set aside for the members of the minority party.
 Republicans 10 Be Forgotten.
 The six elective offices of the house, b. ginning with the speaker ship and including the offices of clerk, postmaster, chaplain, sergeant at-arms and doorkeeper will go as the Democratic majority d'ctates.
 SD aker-to-be Clark will forget the existence of the Republicans as he distributes the chairmanships of the important committees, just as "Un cle Joe" Cannon has forgotten the Democrats for many years.
 The new chairman will walk into the spacious offices of their respec- tive committees as their Republican predecessors disappear in the direc- tion of the small private offices with which they will have to content themselves in the future.
 These things ms an great deal to the men who have shaped leg islation in congress for over doz- en years Their influence in the new congress is likely to be limited to their ability to argue on the floor; for with a safe Democratic majority the Democrats do not need to bargain for any Republican assist ance.
 Underwood Floor Leader.
 The floor leadership of the two parties is an important thing to be settled during the organization of the Democratic house. Since John Sharp Williams, of Mississippi, left the house. Champ Clark, of Missouri, has led the Democratic side, and through his leadership he becomes
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