Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-12-04
DEMOCRATS F|)RESEE
IMPORTANT SESSION
BELIEVE DELIBERATIONS or
CONGRESS WILL BE GREAT
INTEREST TO NATION.
IMPORTANT BEARING ON
POLITICAL SITUATION
Both Republicans and Democrats Split
Into Factions-Tariff and the Trusts
Stand Out ProminentIy-6ryan Com
plieates Situation for House Demo-
Gratis.

Washington, Dec. 4.-"The most i'm
portant session since the civil war" is
the prediction made by many demo-
cratic leaders for the first regular ses-
sion of the Sixty-second congress.
which opened today
Stirring days ahead" are forecast
by republican members, and on both
sides Of the big party line members
in the house and senate are drawn up
to fight out weighty problems Of leg
islation in session that will lead up
to the presidential campaign of 1912.
Important Political Bearing.
OF importance as to the bearing 1t
will have on the approaching political
contest in the nation; Of particular in
terest because of party differences
regulars and insurgents on the repub-
lican side; reactionaries and progress
sives among the democrats, and of un-
usual significance because of the heavy
legislative program. it is at least GER
tain that will be one Of the liveliest
sessions Of congress in many years.
With the gavels falling in the house
and senate at noon, the tariff and the
trusts stood out as the most import
ant subjects for legislation with big
fight assured in both houses. Many
other great questions are confronting
congress; all Of them to the approached
vigorously, include monetary reform.
ratification of arbitration treaties with
Great Britain and France. and the loan
treaties with Nicaragua and Honduras;
Alaskan legislation, the election Of sem,
ators by direct vote OF the people.
pension bills and the regular and per-
manent annual appropriations, to be
under the direction this time In the
house by a democratic committee.
Politics Not ovsrshadowsd.
While the legislative struggles are
in progress, politics lis certain not to
be overshadowed With the democrats
looking ahead with sanguine hope for
triumph at the polls next November.
and insurgent republicans striking out
in earnest to capture their party con-'
vention if.possihle; every move made
in either branch OF congress from now
until adjournment will be thoroughly
considered from political as well as
legislative viewpoints. The political
pot in Washington will soon begin to
boil, with the republican national COM
mittee meeting here Dec. IL, to be fol-
lowed Jan. by the democratic ma
tional committee Selection Of conven-
ton cities. choosing of committee
chairmen who will manage the big
campaigns and plans for the approach
ing party conventions and the subse-
quent battle OF the ballots will attract
as much attention from the nations
legislators as will the making Of the
nations laws.
To enliven the political interest in
both houses there are candidates for
the presidency casting their shadows
across the horizon.
Champ Clark. the speaker OF the
house, already considered among the
democratic possibilities, may at any
time make presidential pronouncement
to his colleagues; and Representative
Oscar w. Underwood, Of Alabama, the
democratic floor leader. also is talked
OF thruout the country as presidential
timber.
In the senate, Mr.. La Toilette al
ready has been proclaimed by progress
sive republicans as their choice to
wrest the nomination from Mr.. Taft
Bryan compIieatss Situation.
In the house the political interest
will be further complicated by the at
titude Of Mr. Bryan, who has quarreled
with Mr. Underwood and branded him
as q reactionary and now criticizes
Speaker Clark in what many demo-
Gratis declare is an effort to cause a
breach between the speaker and the
majority leader OF the house.
The tariff legislative program will
follow the long awaited report Of the
tariff board which is expected to sub
NIT the result of its Investigations on
wool and cotton before the holidays.
The ways and means committee Of
the house, however, under the direction
Of Chairman Underwood. will begin at
once the preparation of new tarin bills
Thruout the recess force Of clerks
and experts have been sat work pre-,
pairing for the committee.
President Taft has given his pledge
that, when the tariff board submits Its
report on the woolep and cotton
schedules 1t VIII be his pleasure! to
make tariff recommendations to con,
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