The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-17
Progressives Take Con-
certed Action Toward
Coming Contest.
PARTY FIGHT WILL
SOON REACHWILSON
Leaders Assert That Twenty
Seven Senators Will Support
Plan for Committee Appor-
tionment Among New and Old
Members Alike-Change
Seniority System.

Washington. December i6.-The fight
" thin the Democratic party for con
troll Of the Senate under the next az
ininistratlOn has taken definite form
within the last few days. as the result
OF concerted action oy small body
81 Democrats toward laying the basis
for what they term progressive con-
troy Ia the next Congress.
series OF conferences eliminating
in dinner yesterday. al which nearly
a. dozen Democrats were present. have
resulted In a general understanding
Cor a reorganization movement de-
signed 10 insure the control Of legis-
!ation and policies after March Z, by
Senators in full sympathy with the
Views Of President-elect Wilson. No
detailed program has been outlined.
but the campaign IS understood 70 in
volve the entire subject OF Senate con-
troll. the direction Of affairs by Sena-
tors approved by the present reorgan-
izers and establishments % a new sys-
tenn OF committee assignments that
VIII distribute important committee
places alike 20 men new and old in the
service OF the Senate
Leaders In Movement.
Those who have participated in the
conferences thus Far are Senators Lea.
O: Tennessee. Smith. Of Georgia; Smith.
Uf South Carolina. Myers. OF Montana
Newlands. OF Nevada. Ashurst. OF
arizona. Gore and owen. OF Oklahoma
Stone. Of Missouri. O'Gorman. OF New
York. MARITIME. Of New Jersey. and
Representative Morris Sheppard. OF
Texas. prospective successor 10 Sena-
TOR Bailey.
II Is understood all OF the Senators
named do not agree 70 the more radical
features OF the "insurgent program.
although they have Endorsed rne gen
eraI purpose Of demanding recognition
for all members Of the party in the
Organization and for the establish
ment OF what they term progressive
legislation policies. u IS understood
senators Stone and OfGorman. who
have participated IN the later con
r-rences. have urged some moderation
Of the general plan outlined At the
earlier gatherings.
The Senate nSht Is expected 70 reach
President Elect Wilson almost as soon
as he takes up questions OF legislation
for his approaching administration
The leaders in the Democratic ''in-
sur-eu-- movement assert that At least
tvventy-seven OF the fO-ty-nine Demo
cratic Senators in the next Congress
gressive program
The fight for places on the impOr-
tant Senate committees = an integral
part Of the new movement
The insurgent Democratic forces
probably will demand a fair distribu-
tiou OF places among new and oil
members on the FIVE leading commit
neutrality-suspicious. Finance. Foreign
Relations judiciary ard Interstate
Commerce-and a similar distribution
on the i've next important commit
tees-Commerce Military Affairs
Naval Affairs. Post-Office and Agricul-
ture such an arrangement would
radically change the seniority system
long recognized. under which the old
IT Senators had the choice OF place.
and often held commanding position:
on several cf the leading committee.
Senators Identified with the new
movement refused TO outline to-day
ton might affect Democrats Of Ions
services like Senators Tillman. Sim
mons. Overman. Martin. Bacon. Cul
berson and Johnston Senator owen
however. stated that in the case Of I
Senator who has the choice al presen
Of a number Of important places I'VE
would give a Senator thus situated or
good place and then distribute the
other desirable appointments"
general conference Of Demo
Gratis late in February TO take in tn
new Senators is contemplated by thos'
identified with the Reorganization
movement