The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-04
FIGHT ON OLD PLAN.
OLD-LINE SENATOR'S RESENT
ATTACK ON SENIORITY
RULE.
attempt To Gust "Rcaci Dnary'
Democrats From Chairm;nshirs
Will Be Holly Resented.

cloud that has yet lowered above the
victorious Democratic party since the
| election, threatening it's harmony
program, has come in the form of an
attack upon the seniority plan that
gives this Congressman or that Sena-
tor leadership by reason of long COM
mittee service.
AT first this assault upon the once
sacred Congressional institution was
not taken any more seriously than
any Of the other frights that preceded
it. Not in fact, until the impression
| spread abroad that in declaring war
upon seniority leadership William ].
Bryan was expressing President t-elect
Wilson'S views was genuine concern
! felt.
Some OF the Staunton utterances of
the next Executive seem to bar out
| this idea and whether or not Mr..
Wilson is now prepared to take a hand
in the organization of the Democratic
majorities Of the House and Senate the
fact remains that the opponents of the
old system are finding comfort in his
| speeches. They like the "warpaint"
suggestions and interpret them to
mean that Governor Wilson will en-
courage any effort to send the ire
dictionaries" to the rear.
These things, coupled with the con-
slant agitation of group of progress
sive Senators, seem to give some SOL
| i'd weight to the prospect Of a fight in
the Democratic caucus of the Senate.
If the agitation persists and the Pro-
gressives attempt to take from the
older Senators chairmanships which
may be claimed under the seniority
rule a row is as certain to come as the
caucus is held.
If on the other hand, this move is
not pressed and the compromise which
has been outlined in The Sun before
is accepted Senate harmony may re-
--aEoaably-,be expested to last -s.14tii. the
extra session is over. After the first
session another story might have to
be told, for then the party platform
pledge as to the tariff will have been
acted upon and the common bond
now holding the elements together re-
moved
There is no doubt that the older
Democratic Senators mean to fight
determinedly for the pOs7s Of leader
ship which their long service would
under ordinary circumstances assure
them. This is not as true of the
, House as of the upper body and less
friction may be expected in organizing
the next House for that reason.
But in the Senate it is different.
The margin by which the Democrats
will control will be so narrow that
: very small group of Democratic in
surgents can control most any situa-
! ton. And they would be encouraged
by the Republicans, who are even
now predicting division and subdivi-
sion in the Senate majority.
: The power, therefore, that two or
three individual Democrats could
/ WELD in the Senate is so apparent that
! unless compromises are in order the
cooperation Of that branch of Con-
gress in the Democratic program will
he seriously endangered
The truth is, the seniority rule is al
most certain to prevail in the new
Senate organization. Senator Tilman,
for instance, will get a big chairman
ship; Senator Martin will get another,
Senator Simmons will come in for one
Senator John Walter Smith for an
other and Senator Bacon for his
This likely for more reasons than
one, in the first place, these Senator's
will under the compromise already
submitted to the caucus, yield their
places on other important committees
than those which they are to head.
They have already conceded this much
in the interest &c harmony and fair
play
In the second place, the Senate is
about the most sensitive Legislative
body in the world. 1t resents hearti-
ly any interference in it's affairs from
outside sources. This has ever been
SO. and it is scarcely less true now. in
spite of the progressive forces in the
two old parties. Colonel Bryan might
with success assail the seniority policy
of the House, hut he would not make
as deep an impression on the SEN
ate.
Then. too. there is the oId-timc
Senatorial courtesy" idea which must
Toe comhatcd in amy effort to reform
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