The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-12-02
CONVENED
TODAy At
WASHIIg|ON
Last Gathering Of Many d ae
Old War Horses
Death Has Removed Presiding
Officer Of Senate
Cannon and Cullom Back After
Political Defeat


Washington, Dec 2.-The third ses-
sion of the sixty second congress began
at noon today under circumstances of
unusual interest: 1t came together
after a political upheaval of far reach
ing extent which will soon transfer all
the executive and legislative branches
of the federal government to demo-
cratic control.
While the present session is merely
the expiring stage of a congress soon
to go out of existence and to be super
ceded in political control and policy
after March 4, yet today's sessions in
the senate and house bring together
for the first time since the recent over
turning those leaders and elements of
the various parties who have been
most prominent in public affairs. The
old faces and figures are again in evil
denct today, although some Of them,
like ex-Speaker Cannon, will soon pass
off the congressional stage, while
others, like Speaker Clark and Chair
man Underwood, have had their ten
ures renewed and strengthened.
AS whole, however, the dominant
note as both branches of congress as
semble is that new conditions, new
policies and new men have been usher
ed in as result of the recent election
and that about the only function of
the present short session, lasting until
March 4, is to pass annual supply bills
and wind UP what remains of the old
regime.
In the senate, Vice President Sher-
man has been removed by death from
the presiding officers chair, which will
be filled temporarily by Senator's Ba-
con of Georgia and Gallinger OF New
Hampshire. alternating. The republi-
can control OF the senate, with about
fifty votes as against the present demo-
cratic strength of about forty two, Will
continue until March 4, although this
control is conditioned largely by the
presence of two elements, regular and
progressive, in the republican total Of
fifty. Senators Hepburn of Idaho and
Rayner of Maryland. have died since
the last session closed, but in other
aspects the personnel continues un-
changed until March 4.
In the house Speaker Clark and the
various chairman of the two preced-
ing sessions. continue to direct affairs,
with a total democratic vote of 230,
giving democratic majority Of about
thirty three. .... ... .~ .-. -s.ss .
The personal aspect was very pro-
nounced as the session began today,
the air of democratic victory pervad-
ing the capitol from end to end. Scores
of men whose names have been
prominently identified with affairs of
congress for many years, and who
have shaped politics and legislation,
faced their last three months of serv-
ice as the session opened.
In this notable company were the
deans of house and senate: Uncle
Joe" Cannon, former speaker. and cen
ter of many turbulent sessions of the
house; and Sen. Shelby H. Cullom, for
thirty years senator from Illinois,
personal friend and contemporary of
Lincoln, and who was elected to his
first term in the national house of
representatives in 1865,
Both Cannon and Cullom came back
for the winters work victims OF poiit-
ical defeat. Sen. Joseph w. Bailey
of Texas, long a democratic leader In
debate. came with the voluntary an
nouncement of his retirement. Repre-
sentatives Cox of Ohio and Sulzer Of
New York brought into the legislative
halls the titles of governor elect. re-
spectively, of Ohio and New York.
Senator Crane of Massachusetts,
long regarded as the republican whip"
Of the senate. who also retired Volun
tarily. Senators Bourne of oregon,
Guggenheim of Colorado, Wetmore OF
Rhode Islands. Courts of Kansas,
Paynter of Kentucky, Gamble of South
Dakota, Brown of Nebraska and many
others, democrats and republicans
alike. be gan today their last three
months Of service. before voluntary
or enforced retirement to private life.
Sorrow for the late Vice President
Sherman overshadowed the spirit of
democratic triumph in the senate and
tempered the spirit of greetings
amongst returning members. Custom
decreed that the upper house. should
adjourn Immediately after meeting to-
day, out of respect for the memory of
plation Of this senators were early in
their seats.
The outline of the winters work
seemed inextricably mixed, as senator's
and congressman met In friendly con-
ferences, with the prospect of tariff
revision In the special session that is
to assemble under President Wilson
next spring In the senate republican
leaders were slow to admit the cer-
tainty of democratic control on all
tariff problems, even with the great
increase In membership that Is to
come with the new congress-
The reassenbling Of the house drew
A aer host of men, long promi-
nentIy identified with republican af-
fair in that body to whom the election
had brought political disaster. Among
them were Nicholas Longworth of
Ohio John Dalzell of Pennsylvania,
Ebernezer j. Hill Of Connecticut and
John A. Needham Of California, all
members of the powerful ways and
means committee, and leaders in ad-
vocation and defense Of republican
tariffs.
CT the so-called ''old republican
guard" the force that supported and
framed the Payne Aldrich law in the
opening of President Tafi's adminis-
tration, but two members will remain
on the ways and means committee
after March a. Representative Payne of
New York and Representative Ford
ley of Michigan
In the ranks of the last termers,n Z
also, were Representatives Mckinley,
Wilson, Foss and Prince of Illinois;
Representative Norris of Nebraska,