Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-17
A President Pro Tempore.

The situation that has developed in
the United States senate in regard to
the election of president pro tempore
is interesting chiefly from the light
that il throws on the relations exist
ing on the republican side OF the cham
ber The election OF a president pro
tempore is in no way necessary to the
transaction of business. as the vice
president is clothed with the power TO
appoint whom he pleases from day to
day to occupy the chair. The progress
sives of the senate claim they were
ignored by the majority in caucus, and
Senator La Toilette, in discussing the
action, declared that he did not pro-
pose TO be outlawed because he could
not support the candidate selected by
the party caucus. 1t is openly charged
that the caucus which named Gallinger
was held in secret and that there was
no notice given TO the insurgent mem
bers of the senate.
Although the stage had been set, no
one expected the fight that began i'm
mediately otter the routine business.
The vice president slipped out of the
chamber. leaving Senator Lodge in the
chair. Senator Cullom thereupon NOM
mated Senator Gallinger; Senator Mar
tin, the democratic leader, nominated
Senator Bacon, and Senator La Fol-
lette, at the head of Is insurgents.
nominated Senator CIapp. The regu-
lar republicans and the democrats
stood by their caucus nominees. The
I CNra1x
four votes were actually cast for Mr..
Clapp. The candidate himself voted
for an insurgent colleague. Seven of
the insurgent group were paired and
one was absent Senators. Borah, Ken
yon, Brown and Dixon announced that
if not paired they would vote for the
republican caucus nominee.
A trap which, apparently. was not
foreseen by Senator La Toilette was
sprung while the fourth ballot was in
progress. When Senator Borah an
nounced his pair with Senator Works,
an insurgent of the La Toilette stripe,
Senator Root insisted that rule IL be
brought into play and the senator from
Idaho be called upon to cast his vote.
The spectacle of two senators of
the same party pairing and withhold
ing their votes on questions of this
kind. thereby tending to bring about
the election of a democrat, is unprece-
denied" he said. He called the atten-
ton of the senate pointedly to the in
consistency of such action with respect
to party procedure and intimated that
Mr.. Clapp's supporters had by theis
own action separated themselves from
the republican party.
1t was this remark that brought out
the fiery reply from Senator La Fol
lette. who claimed that he and his col
leagues were given no chance to eU
press themselves. Borah, however, de-
clined TO take part in the controversy.
stating that he intended to vote for
Callinger anyhow and was willing to
abide by the action of the caucus. The
pairs were allowed to stand and the
election of a pro tempore officer will
be taken up today.
It is not expected that the democrats
will take advantage of this state of
affairs TO attempt TO dominate the sit
cation. but will leave it to the repub-
licans to fight it out among themselves.
In this way the enemy will be more
discounted than by the democrats
taking sides in the controversy.
An effort was made in this direction,
but it is believed that better counsel
prevailed and that the majority will be
left to fight out their differences.