Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-06
REPUBLICANS LINE UP
Declare Reprisals Will Be Possible
in Next Four Years.
OLD RECORDS ARE CITED
Pointed Out That Cleveland's Hun
dreds Of Appointments Were
Not Held Up.

The threatened fight of the democratic
senator's against nominations sent to the
Senate by President Taft during the pres
ent session became more acute today,
when republicans declared very pointedly
to democrats that reprisals will be pos
sible during the next four years under
the democratic administration in the
White House
Democratic senators have not decided
upon definite policy toward Taft nomi-
nations. but there are a good many of
them who openly declare they will do all
they can to prevent confirmation of a
great many of the appointments. No
formal notice to that effect has been
served upon the republicans. and there
has been no open indication of 1T in
executive sessions of the Senate. But
the plan has developed SO far informally
that republicans are up and doing to
counteract 1t.
Stand of Republicans.
What is sauce for the goose is sauce
for the gander." republican senators
have told democrats who have advanced
the hold-up scheme. The democratic
margin of control in the Senate after
March will not be as large as that
Of the republicans in this session. 1t
is shown, and if the democrats can be
successful in the hold-up during this
session, the republicans can practically
be as successful in the next sessions
when a democratic President will be
making the selections.
The republicans, too, have taken oc-
caSiOn to look up the records OF the
treatment accorded President Cleveland
h. al Ypa ino r. l.
ton of President Mckinley. Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts has had the
task in hand. and, it is understood. he
has found that about 43O nominations
were sent to the Senate by Mr.. Cleve-
land in the period in question. All
were confirmed by a Senate that was
republican. except lightweight post
masters and four other appointments.
This number of uncontirmed nomlna-
tions. it is held by republicans, is only
little greater than the usual number
left over at the close of an average
session with no change of administra-
ton pending
Appointments Involved.
Talk among the democrats today indi-
Gated that the appointments at which
they are aiming chiefly are those to fed
eral offices in states represented by DEM
ocratic senators. chiefly in the south.
There probably will be no fight against
nominations of army and navy officers
for promotion. for those are regarded as
automatic.
But opposition is sure to be made. 1t is
said, to nominations of customs and In
ternal revenue collectors, especially In
the south, of postmasters and OF mem
bers of the diplomatic corps. Mr.. Taft 8
nominations of federal judges also are ex-
pected to find rough sailing in the Senate.
because the appointments, once con-
firmed, are practically for life.
conference of the democrats to nix
upon a general policy has been suggested.
Among many democrats there is feeling
that nominations for offices in states
represented by democratic senators
should be referred to the particular SEN
ators affected and their advice as to op-
position to the nomination should be fol-
lowed This plan is sure to be urged
before a democratic conference.