Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-21
ByC. S. ALBERT

Especial Star-Bulletin Correspondence
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 8.-The
Democrats of the senate lost no time
in opening up their fight to prevent
the confirmation of Objectionable ap-
pointments made by President Taft.
Senator. Smith of Georgia took the ini-
tiative. He sought to prevent an ex-
ecutive session, when Senator Cullom
desired one, and proved successful.
He forced an adjournment and moth
ing was accomplished by the Repub-
! licans. .=. &. H.. q.
An announcement was then made
| by Democratic senator's that they
would pursue obstructive tactics to-
ward all nominations until the Re-
| publicans agreed to some dividing
lime beyond which combinations must
not 60 They desired positive I'M
derstanding from the Republicans on
| the subject. @ Il.
Until the warning factions reach
some kind of understanding it will be
| impossible to indicate whether the
nominations of Governor Frear and
Mott-Smith will be confirmed. They
will be both fayorably reported from
lseommittee. y The Republicans will
make an honest effort to make them
effective IL compromise is ar
ranged the Democrats will determine
what shall become of them.
Republican Turn Coming. 4
What is sauce for the goose is
sauce for the gander," Republican
senators have told Democrats who
have advanced the hold-up scheme.
The Democratic margin of control in
the senate after March A will not be
as large as that of the Republicans in
this session, 1t is shown, and if the
Democrats can be successful in the
hold-up during this session, the Re
publicans can practically be as sue
cessful In the next sessions when a
Democratic. president will be making
the selections. ~
The Republicans, too, have taken
occasion to look up the records of the
treatment accorded President Cleve-
land between the election and the In
auguration of President Mckinley.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts has
had the, task in hand, and, 1t Is un-
derstood, he has found that about 4S0.
nominations were sent to the Senate
by Mr.. Cleveland in the period in
question. All were confirmed by a
Senate that was Republican. except
eighty-four postmasters and four other
appointments. This number of un-
confirmed nominations, 1t is fheld by
Republicans, is only little greater than
the usual number, left over at the
close OF an average session with no
change Of administration pending.
Talk among the Democrats indi-
Gated that the appointments at which
they are aiming chiefly are those to
federal offices in states represented
by Democratic senators, chiefly in the
south. There probably will be no
fight against nominations of army
and navy officers for promotion, for
those are regarded as automatic.
But opposition is sure to be made,
it is said, to nominations of customs
and internal revenue collectors, es-
pecially in the south, of postmasters
and Of members of the diplomatic
corps. Mr. Taft's nominations of
federal judges also are expected to
find rough sailing in the Senate be-
cause the appointments, once con-
firmed, are practically for life
A conference of the Democrats to
fix upon a general policy has been
suggested. Among many Democrats
there is a feeling that nominations
for offices in states represented by
Democratic senators should be refer
red to the particular senator's af-
fected and their advice as to oppos-
ton to the nomination should be fol-
lowed. This plan is sure to be urged
before Democratic conference.
Gore is Leader.
The movement was started early
to prevent the confirmation of many
Of President Taft's final appoint
ments. Action followed the sending
in of nearly 200 recess nominations
from the White House, and the Demo
cratic forces We're headed by Senator
Gore. who had the active support of
several of his Democratic colleagues
The campaign is directed especial
ly against nominations which it is
claimed have been postponed from
time TO time. thus bringing the new
terms unnecessarily close to the be-
ginning of the Democratic admins
tration.
. Democratic Senators claimed that
the President had deprived the Demo-