The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-01-24
on behalf of the Republican once
holders whose terms have just ex
nirad

Threat of Retaliation.
The new phase which has come
over the matter presents itself III lhe
Republican threat that if their Demo
cratic brethren do not yield and sho"
a willingness to confirm Mr.. Iatts
Appointments there will be Republic
an opposition Of Mr.. Wilson's ap-
pointments when the president-elect
takes office. Now the Democrats Will
have control of the senate after March
4, but by an exceedingly slender ma
jority margin. 1t may be that the
Democrats will have a majority OF
two. but it is possible that majority
of one will be all that they can mus
ter.
In this case it readily can be seen
that unless after March all the Dem
ocrats are in attendance at the SEN
ates executive sessions, the Republic
ans by acting together can prevent
the confirmation Of any appointments
which they choose. The threat al
present extends only to a determine
ton to refuse confirmation to those
appointments Of Mr.. Wilson which are
intended to take the places OF, those
already made by Mr.. Taft, and which
the Democrats are holding up.
BattIeshlps Fight Now On.
| nh, IL Grb hoc hoor or ri a6 II,
congress on the proposition to au-
thorize the construction Of new bat
tleships. Secretary Of the Navy Mey-
er has asked for three ships. but as
has been explained in previous dis
patches 1t Is probable that he asked
for three in order that he might be
sure to get one or possibly two.
Some prominent Democratic mem
bers of the house have started the
fight against battleship construction
on the ground that the money which
spent for public buildings. Last year
there was no public building measure
passed, and as every member of con-
gress Is DESTROYS of getting something
in the shape of a public building for
his district because Of the prestige
which such an accomplishment gives
him at home, it readily can be seen
how strong an appeal there is in the
plan for a big public building appro.
priation.
Can Wilson Control Senate?
When Woodrow Wilson first be
came an announced candidate for
the nomination of his party for
the presidency the contest be-
came, in racing parlance, Wilson
against the field" 1t might seem at
first thought that this was not the
case because Champ Clark had more
votes among the delegates than Mr..
Wilson, but from the very beginning
Of the struggle there was feeling
apparent in Democratic circles that
before the contest ended in the con-
vention hall a combination Of the
field would be necessary to defeat
!, Wilson.
1t is to-day everybody's secret, be.
cause the whole matter has been laid
bare in previous Washington dis
patches, that President-elect Wilson
is more concerned over the senate g
probable attitude toward his policies
than he is over any other possible op-
j, position either from a party or leg
islative source. The question there
fore which Mr.. Wilson's strongest
Democratic supporters are trying to
answer Is whether the Democratic
senators who were with 1.-The field
and opposed to Mr. Wilson's can.
, didacy because of his supposed rad
, ical tendencies, will join with the pro-
, gressive Democrats to give his poll
cies the force and effect Of legisla.
ton.
Absolutely united Democratic sen.
ate support will be needed II the in.
coming president is to have things
done as he wants them done. There
q are several Democratic senators who
o were opposed to Mr.. Wilson as a can
o didate for the nomination who to-day
= are making brave showing of 10y
!. atty and the Wilson Democrats be
!. lieve that this loyalty will stand the
test when support Is asked for poll
n cies which some of the conservative
r Democratic senators hitherto have
T. held as being entirely too radical tt
n become the law of the land
d No Certainty Of United Support.
l. Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia, WHIT
r was supposed during the pre-conven
y ton campaign to have Harmon lean
ings, is to-day doing his best to hell
It along a plan of Democratic organiza
D. ton of the senate which will give M:
It Wilson the support which will b.
r. necessary If his legislation Is to b.
It sanctioned In the way that he want
n it sanctioned. There are other sen
It ators who prior to the Democrat
o convention were for Clark, or Under