The Washington times., 1912-12-22
MARTIN IS -OuSTEO
FROM Leadership !.
a N UPPER HOUSE |
Progressive Democrats Hold
Confabs to Check the
Conservatives.

Senator Thomas. Staples Martin. Of
Virginia, now Democratic leader Of the
Senate. stands today beaten In the
Qpiet fight under the surface among
the Senate Democrats over the leader.
chip In the next Congress.
Tho Senate Progressive Democrats
have been extremely busy for several
weeks In the effort to unhorse 6ena.
tor Martin. A number Of quiet con.
fabs and powwows have been held. a
lot Of plotting TO the end Of preventing
the conservative or reaetionary Demo-
Gratis from controlling the Senate com.
mittecs have been carried on.
Lately. there has been 9 careful
count Of noses and II is found the
crsss is strong . ..noush no % control sSs
situation. Mr.. Martin and hiN friends
have taken alarm and do not know
whore they are at. Senator BAnk-
o. ns NV who s Sms % sGs
UP In the air and % are some Of the
other conservatives who have always
stood by Mr.. Martin and have stood
for conservatism In the Senate Demo-
cratic councils.
Want Support for Wilson.
TAe Senate radical or Progressive Q
Democrats have insisted that their pur-
pose was to organise the Senate com.
mittees % that Wilson ~ President
would be enabled to find support for
the legislation he wanted. But It was
well understood that the effect Of such
IN organisation would be TO thrust
into the backgrounl conservative ssns;
q the Virginia Democratic machine
and who as leader Of that machine
hss persistentiy fought the Prosres-
sive Democratic element In virginia.
Democrats in the Senate have gained
moro strength and confidence they have
become less yelled In their purposes
and II has become clear that they are
ss.r,biS Intent On oSst,Ts sana .ome ,hs
strength slip from. them. they might
consent to accept Mr.. Martin and then
tie him hand and foot. But II All the
Democrats line up on tho Progressive
sinia senator Will have to take back
seat.
Liberals Encouraged.
One thing that has heartened the
Progressive Democrats In the Senate ID
the recent utterances Of Wilson. Tho
President. elect In one way and another
has offered encouragement to the liberal
wing Of the party In the Senate. His
threat to hang as high A. Haman the
promoters Of q panic has been accept
ed BY the radical Democrats a. mean
ing he Is prepared to back them up.
tive leaders OF the Senate cannot make
headway against the course sanctioned
by the President.elect. may be that
s:sf On sSsy ,Ssrs be abe no no Ssrn:
ing the fact. that just now most Of the
Democrats In Congress want 70 seaft
out In the good grace: OF the man who
g expected e stt IN the White House
Just who Win be the Democrats
leader II Martin does not regain hil
lost ground. It 10 not possible to say al
present. A powerful movement = on
O'Gorman, Gore. stone. Reed. and Johr
Sharp Williams are mentioned. ThS
youth Of Senator Luke Lea stands IN
his way, otherwise he would be In thu
ator Hoke Smith is looked on es aspir
ing to the leadership, but he will prob
ably not get It In the coming Congress
because OF the fact he has so recent,
entered the Senate,
Limit Of Fight Uneertain.
With Senator Martin probably beat
en- for leader, 1t Is uncertain how IA
the hght will be carried TO depose oil
Democrats from chairmanships which
they want. More speclncaIy, 1t 10 no
quito clear how far the war will b'
carried to keep Senator Simmons from
tile Finance Committee chairmanship
Indications now are that while. Mr.. Sim
mons 10 strong, his situation 10 Eettini
shaky and he will have to make Il piaii
he 10 going TO line up. for the Wilson
policies or have desperate hght Il
which he stands about an even chanc
Of getting worsted. The recent con
ference between Wilson and Senate
Oyerman. In which Overman got en-
couregsInent for Josephus Daniels. o
tnbinet. stTonsiv susse.ts thst a,n,mon an
is ready to keep on peaceful terms witt
the President-elect and has conveys
this word to Trenton. Daniels an
Simmons. II 10 known, have buried tn
hatchet.