The Washington herald., 1912-12-29
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.


An extra session of Congress having
been decided upon, there remains only
the question of the date. Speaker
Clark and Chairman Underwood are
very properly advising an early meet
ing. The probability is that Gov. VIII
son will accede to their views. The
sooner Congress meets the sooner will
the tariff be settled and the great in
dustries of the country, which now are
marking time, be able to adjust them
selves to new conditions. Even with
all ordinary expedition the new tariff
law will not be effective until nearly
a year after election.
There is one feature about the next
Congress which is worth emphasizing.
For almost the first time in history
the Southern Democrats will not be in
control of the caucus Out of the 200
Democrats IL the next House, only 100
come from Southern States, including
the border States of Maryland, Ten
nessee, Kentucky, and Missouri. The
great landslide of last November COM
pletely changed the political complex
ion of many State delegations. I'm
agine Connecticut without single Re-
publican Representative, Indiana with
none, New Jersey with only one. Out
of the forty-three Representatives from
New York there arc only ten Repub-
licans There are almost as many
Democrats from the six States of New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Indiana. and Illinois as there are from
the solid South
In looking into the political future,
the importance of the predOminance
of Northern Democrats is not to be
overlooked 1t means that the South
ern free trade element will not be
able to control the making OF the
tariff bill The Northern Democrats
represent districts in which manufac-
tories are situated, and they will stand
up against legislation which will close
factories and drive workmen out into
the streets This great body of North
ern Democrats will act as a check
against an extreme tariff law. I'm
necessary protection will, of course, be
removed, but there is apt to be loud
protest if radical action is attempted.
For these Democrats from the North
want to be returned to Congress. They
are certain to be left at home if they
allow the enactment of law which
adversely affects the material interests
of their districts They must, as
matter OF self-preservation. keep
within conservative lines. If they do
this. they will go far toward perpet-
uating the power of the Democratic
party. If the tariff is lowered wisely
and with the minimum of injury to
American industries, which have
grown up under the fostering prin-
ciple of protection, there will be no
disposition on the part of the Amer
Ican people to make a change two
years hence, when a new Congress is
to be elected. The Democratic hope
that this may be the case lies in the
fact that Democrats from the North
and West constitute large majority
Of their party in the approaching Con-
gress. /
The fact that the Democrats are
Overwhelmingly in control of the next
House ought to enable them TO trans
act their legislative programme with
expedition. They can maintain a
quorum at all times, for they will
have 200 out of 435 members, exactly
two Democrats for one Republican.
They can pass any rule which may be
reported. The handful of Republicans
will not be able at any time to offer
effective opposition
1t is not to be expected that all the
Democrats will agree TO every detail
of legislation which may be suggested
With such a large majority, however,
the party does not need to be entirely
harmonious. 1t can sustain serious de-
fection and still retain control. This
being the case, there ought not to be,
so far as the House is concerned. any
delay Already the Democratic lead
crs are planning to save time by hold
ing hearings on the tariff schedules
during the present session. This
means that all the details will have
been inquired into before the 4th
of March, so that the tariff bill ought
10 be ready for presentation to the
Democratic caucus Immediately upon
the assembling of the new Congress,
and it ought to be passed by the 1st