Norwich bulletin., 1912-12-17
InterneCine War
 of the Democrats
PROGRESSIVE SENATORS LINE
 UP FOR TROUBLE
WILSON'S SUPPORTERS
Contingent Numbering 27 to Insist on Carrying Out Policies of President elect-PIans Discussed at a Dinner.

Washington, Dec. 16.-The fight within the democratic party for con trol of the senate under the next ad- ministratiOn has taken definite form within the last few days as the result Of concerted action by a small body of democrats toward laying the basis for what they term progressive control'' in the next congress,
 Plans Discussed at Dinner. A series of conferences eliminating in dinner yesterday at which nearly dozen democrats were present have | resulted in, a general understanding for reorganization movement de- signed to insure the control of legis- l lation and policies after March 4 by senators in full sympathy with the views of President elect Wilson. No detailed programme has been outlined, but the campaign is understood to in Volve the entire subject of senate con- | trOL The direction of affairs by sen- | ators approved by the present reor- | ganization and the establishment of q | new system of committee assignments | that will distribute important com mittee places alike to men new and old in the service of the senate.
 Stand for Progressive Policies. Those who have participated in the l conference thus far are Senators Lea l of Tennessee, Smith of Georgia, Smith of South Carolina, Myers of Montana, Newlands of Nevada, Ashurst of Ari- 1 zona, Gore and Owen of Oklahoma, l Stone of Missouri, O'Gorman of New York, Maritime of New Jersey and Representative Morris Sheppard of | Texas, prospective successor to Sena- tor Bailey.
 It is understood that all of the sem ators named do not agree to the more radical features of the 'insurgent' programme, though they have en- dorsed the general purpose of demand ing recognition for all members of the party in the reorganization and for the establishment of what they term progressive legislative policies
 27 in the Movement.
 It is understood that Senators Stone and O'Gorman, who have participated in the later conferences<s have urged
 some moderation of the general plan
 outlined at the earlier gatherings. The
 senate fight is expected to reach Pres
 ident-elect Wilson almost as soon as
 he takes up questions of legislation
 for his approaching administration
 The leaders in the democratic "insur
 gent" movement assert that at least 2T
 of the 49 democratic senators in the
 next congress will support their view
 of the progressive programme" They
 estimate that at least 1T of, the ss
 hold over" senators will align them
 selves with the organization element
 and that majority of the incoming democrats will join them.
 : Fight for Committee Places. The fight for places on the impor-
 tant senate committees is an integral part of the new movement. The in- surgent democratic forces probably
 will demand a fair distribution of , places among new and old members, on the five leading oommittees-ap- propriations, finance, foreign relations,
 judiciary and interstate commerce
 and a similar distribution on the five next important committees - com merce, military affairs naval affairR postoffices and agriculture. Such an arrangement would radically change the seniority system long recognized
 under which the old senators had the
 choice of places and often held com mandfng positions on several of the leading committees.