The Washington times., 1911-08-18
DEMOCRATS IN THE
SENATE ARE TORN
BY D|SSENS|ONS
Progressives Are Forced To
49,. Violate Their
H.. Pledges. !, T.
By JOHN SNURE.

- Growing out OF the breaking OF the
nsurgent-Democratic alliance in the
Senate yesterday on the cotton bill,
there is the bftterest sort of feeling
among the Senate Democrats. They are
torn by animosities and and dissensions
by reason of the fact that a small group
OF reactionartes got them into a position
where they were compelled to violate
the pledges they had made In caucus,
and because they had to pass a bill SO
laden down with amendments as to
make II farcicaI.
So strong is the feeling on the Demo-
cratic side that there is talk Of re-
fusal on the part of a number of
Democrats to longer support Senator
Bacon for President pro tempore Of the
Senate. It was Bacon, Johnston of Ala
oama, and John Sharp Williams who
were chiefly Instrumental yesterday in
Forcing the Democrats to break with
the insurgents and disregard assurances
that had been given La Toilette and
other tnsurgent leaders.
The insurgents are chagrined but
their feeling is mild as compared with
the bitterness felt in some Democratic
quarters.
Yesterdays troubles began in the
Democratic caucus which lasted most
of the day Wednesday.
Sharp differences of opinion devel-
oped then. Nine of the Democratic
Senators were opposed to going ahead
with tariff revision. They wanted no
revision Of the cotton schedule. Sem
ators Overman and Simmons of North
Carolina have opposed cotton revision
from the first and have made no Sc
Cret OF 1t.
Bacon and Martin Clash.
Senators Bacon and Martin clashed
bitterly at the caucus Senator Mar
tin, minority leader, was anxious to
go ahead and pass a cotton bill in
alliance with the insurgents and have
It put uJ to the President.
committee was directed to draft
resolution that would express the
sense Of the caucus. On this commit
tee were Bacon, Johnston of Alabama,
ana one other. This committee
brought in a resolution that was the
direct opposite Of what the caucus
wanted. 1t was voted down and
resolution was adopted by an over
whelminR vote that bound the caucus
/ to support the La Toilette cotton bill
and the Cummins steel amendment.
providing the House cotton bill was
the same procedure OF voting down
the House cotton bill and reconsidera-
ton would be followed as on the
wool bill. Cummins and Brfstow were
. 10 Do dIIOWeO BOOO IalIn 10 Win |
draw their steel and sugar amend
ments.
Bad feeling developed at the caucus
between the progressives and Leader |
Martin on the one side and small
rsactionary group. including, Bacon,
Bnnkhead, and Johnson, on the other. |
Senator Bankhead took the view that !
Leader Underwood in the House did
program carried out end did not want
steel revision linked to cotton as pro- |
posed by the !nsursent- Democratic AL |
liance. A committee went to see I'm |
derwood and found that on the con- |
trary Underwood was willing to have |
the arrangement carried out
@ One OF the things emphasized in the |
discussion in caucus was that it would |
PrIstow amendments, If temporarily |
withdrawn, and that TO do so would |
he improper and discourteous. Even |
stronger language was used in dis |
cusslng this
Senator'S Surprised.
It was in the full expectation that the |
Democratic-insurgert program would |
be carried out and the La Toilette cot |
ton bill plus the Cummins steel amend |
rnent passed. that nearly ell the Demo |
Gratis assembled yesterday. They were |
surprised and dumounded as were |
the insurgents, when 1t developed a few |
of their number were cooperating with |
Senator Penrose 20 prevent the ar |
rangement being carried out, to break |
the Democratic-insurgent alliance and |
to pass a bill that they knew Presi- |
dent Taft could veto on much easier |
grounds than the wool bill; in fact, that |
they knew probably could not be adopt |
ed when It came out of cOnferenA-
Senator Martin. the minority leader, |
IL especially angered over what oc-
Cured
Such was the feeling among the Dem
oCrats yesterday afternoon, when II |
was seen what was done. that in at |
least one case n personal encounter |
was at one time imminent.