Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-03
SPO|LS VAR
|SIHREATENED
IN C0NGR ESS
If President Fills Remain
ing Federal Vacancies,
Democrats, Hungry for
Plums, May Retaliate.
IBY E. Il. HANsON.l

Washington, d. c., Dec. PA politi-
cal spoils war, the like Of which has
never been known ID the worlds his
tory, Is sure to result II the president
carries out his policy Of trying to force
the senate into approving the appoint
ments of his favorites during the short
session which has just begun and
which will mark the close Of his ad-
ministration.
The president has declared that he
will continue to send nominations to
the senate as fast as vacancies occur
during the last few months of his
Official career. He has also intimated
that he will send nominations for
vacancies now several months old,
which he has ignored up to date.
The democratic senator's, out of
power for sixteen years, are standing
open mouthed, waiting for patronage
plums. They are SO hungry that they
have threatened to block all nomina-
tions of the president for the, next
three months, thereby increasing the
number of big places Woodrow Wilson
will dispose Of and making certain of
the reappointment of democrats four
years from now, just before the close
of the administration.
The opening skirmish will be had
over the confirmation Of Edgar e.
Clark of Iowa, who has just been re-
named for seven year term on the
interstate commerce commission by
the president In announcing that he
would appoint Clark for another term,
the president declared that he intend
ed TO fill every vacancy. The senate
democrats, however. are prepared to
question his right to do SO on the
eve of democratic administration and
they will appeal to their republican
colleagues to stand by them In their
fight against the president.
As the republicans are divided in
the senate, the president will get but
few combinations from now on. How
ever. he will plant mine which II 1t
is not carefully looked after will ex-
plode and blow up the entire Wilson
administration.
Younger Democrats Insurging.
The balance Of power in favor OF
the democrats in the upper body will
be SO small in the sixty-third congress,
that pretty nearly any peevish sena-
tor can upset it and cause trouble for
MT. WllSON. AlTcduy CcItdlh " SAo
Younger democratic senators have sig
.nified their = intention Of having the
best committee chairmanships. The
older lawmakers are appalled, at their
nerve, but helpless before them II
they really try to carry out their de-
signs
Few people realize that at the pres
ent time there are only three demo-
Gratis in the upper body who were
there during the closing days OF the
Cleveland administration. There are
none who were there during the open
ing of that administration when the
Louisiana democrats forced the presi-
dent and his party on the shoals. Then
the balance OF power was just xs
slight as 1t will be after March 4. But
none OF the senators can point with
personal experience to the havoc Of
those days.
Now II these younger democrats get
into fight with their older brethren
over the committee chairmanships.
there will be an excellent opportunity
for the republicans to block every
appointment the president makes
where the ofiice is filled by republi-
can who will hold on until his success