The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-04-11
INDICATIONS OF A
SPLIT AMONG
DEMOCRATS
Harris Says Harmony is Al
ready Endangered
TWO WINGS AT [ 0GGERHEADS
Rejection Of Bryan Candidate for Sen
ate Leader Beginning Of
Trouble
TWO WINGS AT LOGGERHEADS

Washington, April 11:-These be
halcyon and vociferous days-until
things get to be doing. Likewise, the
man who held the bull by the horns
and sandpapered his nose in the dust
was sagacious enough to have his
laugh first. By the same token, the
politicians are working the Castor
and Alphonse act and sugaring each
other with fine words-before the
possibility of trouble begins with
actual legislation. 1t is an era OF
good feeling now, and it is well to be
happy while we may. In a broad
way the republicans are sidestepping
for the democrats, vice versa, the
president and Champ Clark are assur-
ing each other and re-assuring the
people and everybody is bubbling
with good will.
Except Bryan He is panied to OBJ
serve. He smells mice, and there is
a fly in his ointment. His optimistic
exuberance is chilled by the prepon-
derance in the democratic councils of
the senate of Martin of Virginia.
Senator Martin has made a first-class
sixteen year old record in the senate
as a safe and sane citizen and legisla
tor, but from the Bryan point of view
this is a suspicious circumstance,
sufficient to relegate him to private
life. He does not champ and ramp
and therefore he must be unsound
and unfit to lead the senate demo
crazy. Nevertheless, he is going to
do that same for the next two years
unless endorsed by party revolu-
ton. Directed and marshalled by
Bryan the bran new democratic sena-
tors refused to agree to the Martin
proposition, and kicked theoretically
before and uring the caucus. Just
the same, Martin was chosen by
good majority as chairman of the eau
Gus, which carries with it the leader
ship of the party on the floor of the
senate. A senatorial primary to be
held by the'Virginia democrats in July
will decide whether Martin is to con
tinue in the senate, and Bryan threat
ems to demonstrate and follow up his
enmity by sturoping the state against
Martin. Very Bryanesque.
The split in the senate democracy,
caused by B an, is the first serious
indication OF trouble in the councils
of the democracy, and the results
promise t. be far-reachng The first
and most important one is that all
harmonious concert of action by the
senate democrats is seriously endan-
gered. That they will flock apart on
many propositions in the near future
il now quite probable. The breach is
on practically the same lines as that
switch has separated the republicans,
and from a party point of view is
likely to have even worse results.
The republican factions have come
together ar some cardinal principles,
land in the matter of cohesive Organi-
cation at this time they may be said
TO stand solidly together. The med
dlesome intrusion of Bryan has, on
the contrary, accentuated democratic
difference in the senate, split them
wide open and published that fact to
the nation. The southern democracy
has always looked with slight respect
on the Bryan doctrines, which they
have regarded as wholly undemocra-
tic, and with one exception-Smith of
South Carolina-they disregarded his
advice and repudiated his leadership
in the recent caucus. His strength
C ne almost entirely from the new
al radical senators from the north
all west, and between these sec
tilns and the south the democratic
liGe of division will henceforth be
sharply drawn.
OF tho Tafforgnnf.p Il.,,,p
cracy of the south and the Bryan dem
ooracy of the north and west there
can be no compromise. Their differ
ences are much more profound and
farreaching than have been those
which have in these later months di-
vided the republicans. "Thurfore, 80
to use the word coined and so fire.
quently used by Senator Cummings,
there is likely. to be something doing
when reciprocity and the tariff sche-
dulles reach the senate from the
House That the two democratic
wings will agree on the proper
amount of duty to leave on imports
is extremely improbable. This gull
will come near being fatal to any at
tempt by the democrats in congress
to revise the tariff It is fact which
has been abundantly demonstrated
that there are more than a few demo
Gratis in the senate who are in favor
of high protective tariff on every
thing produced by their respective
states. They will protect their in
dustries, let the result be what it will
On the contrary, the extreme radicals
now herded by Bryan, will cheerfully
sacrifice any local interest for the
theory of free trade on a purely
revenue tariff basis.
Under such circumstances it is moi
at all difficult to foresee or dangerous
to predict that tariff rates will not be
seriously cut by this congress Thar
there will be reductions here ant
there and pruning is likely later bu
the senate will deal at this session
with but few schedules, and thes,
will not be slashed at all seriously
Generally, republicans are agreed
that reductions on certain articles
will be made by this congress whei
this can be done with the aid Of in
formation from the tariff board, bu
any attempt at by and large outtinl
without safe and scientific basis fo
II at this session is certain to fail
That what is known as the progress
sive republican group of senators