Omaha daily bee., 1911-07-30


amendment for the popular election Of
United States senators, Numerous re-
publican houses and also democratic houses
heretofore had passed legislation favoring
the election Of United States senator's by
the people. In all of these no house had
attempted to deprive the federal govern
ment of the right to protect or supervise
elections, The provision presented to the
present house deprived the general govern
ment of that power, This. OF course, was
intended to favor the souths peculiar cleo
ton system. Many northern democrats
were FESTIVE under this provision, but King
Caucus had spoken and they voted for tho
provision giving each state the right to
supervise its own elections and taking
away From the federal government the right
OF supervision. The. bill as 1t passed the
senate restored the federal supervision
clause and II is now in conference with
but small chance OF agreement.
Publicity of Expenses.
The second democratic caucus agreement
was publicity of congressional expenses
The republican congress heretofore had
provided for the publication after election
by congressional committees of expenses
incurred. A republican house at the last
session passed a bill providing for publiea-
ton before elections of expenditures The
democratic measure provided for the same
as the last measure OF the republicans.
making no provision for publication Of ex-
penses incurred at congressional primaries.
representative from Kansas. Mr.. Jack
son. moved an amendment to the bill so
as to make Ii apply to the primaries. The
fairness OF the proposition appealed to all
of the republicans and a large number Of
a.. A.,
30 amended in the committee of the whole.
Then the south came out in the open and
by superhuman efforts got the northern
members. who had voted for the amend
ment. to openly recant and regardless of
the humiliation. within thirty minutes after
having voted for the amendment turned
around and voted against. It on a call OF
ayes and nays. and thus the amendment
was lost, This amendment. however, has
been restored by the senate, which has
passed measure more drastic than was
ever dreamed Of by the most ardent advo-
Gates of bill providing for the publicity
OF campaign expenses at general elections
and at primaries. This bill Ia also in con-
ference with absolutely no hope of an
agreement being reached on the part Of the
conferees.
Presidential Possibilities.
Much might be said OF presidential candi-
dates on the part OF the democracy. A
large percentage OF the leading northern
democratic papers saw in the triumphant
reelection OF Governor Harmon of Ohio a
great presidential possibility. This. how
ever. has displeased a very large portion
OF the south and In consequence Speaker
Champ Clark and Governor woodrow Will
son, the Virginia born and bred southeEner,
although now living in New Jersey, have
been crowded into activity, while Harmon
has been driven to q very doubtful third
place In the race and the south mounted
and militant is grooming Clark and Wilson
for the presidential nomination so that In
either event a real southerner will be the
democratic nominee.
And the further course OF the south in
its new found dominion will be watched
with intense interest by the American peo-
pie. e. @. s.