Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-10
DEMOCRATS CAN'T GET AWAY
FROM FACT THAT GEORGIAN
IS IN SENATE.
DESIRES TO ASSUME FLOOR
LEADERSHIP FOR PARTY
Of Prosressivism Dues
toned by Bryanites-Smith Assumss
Leading Part in Legislation Despite
HI. Nswness-Stands Close to Prssi.
dent Elect Wilson.
ESPECIAL Correspondence.]

Washington, Feb. 10.-The question
OF what to do with, Hoke Smith senator
from Georgia, is causing a lot 81
gentlemen who wear togas In the SEN
ate to lie awake nights and do lot OF
wondering in the day time.
The problem is just what sphere OF
influence Senator Smith is going TO MI
in the senate after March I. he Is pc
ing talked of as possible democratic
leader Neither he nor his friends are
discouragfng any talk of this kino OF
any movement to that end.
Whether the democratic caucus
makes Hoke leader or not, there are
those who think he will be the demo-
cratic leader anyhow. He has alreaoS
showed signs Of champing at the pit
of restraint supposed to be imposed oy
senate tradition. He has been In the
senate not much more than a year ana
it would be an extraordinary tnlns *
a new senator of this sort should De
made leader. Nevertheless. the georgia
senator is thrusting himself 10 tue
forefront whenever an important piece
of Hesitation or important question Oh
policy come up. He refuses to pc sup
pressed because Of the youthfuiness OIL
his senatorial experience and the SEN
ate is by this time aware that suppress
sion is not to be thought OF and that !.
has Senator Smith with 1t and must
reckon with him.
Processes Prosrsssivsnses.
Senator Smith processes to be
strong progressive. This 4s in spite OF
me fact he was member OF the Cleve"
land cabinet from 1898 to 1896. AS gov
ernor Of Georgia he tough: the railroad
machine and his record as governor
was generally progressive on tue
other hand, some Of the more pro-
nounced. progressives in congress are
not enthusiastic over his progresstvisn
and are accusing him OF being much
more conservative than he admits. II y
! impossible for some Of the good Bryan
men in congress to overlook the 1act
that Senator Smith was long one VI
| the advisers Of Cleveland.
At any rate, Senator Smith hes lateiy
been on a pilgrimage to Trenton ana
; was consulted by Governor wilson on
| innermost political matters. incluo1hs
/ the makeup OF the cabinet He p up
parently in the confidence OF the pfesi-
| dent elect He has praceiced Ia" 1oi
! a third of a century and has mad an
extremely wide experience He Is
man Of ability, force. resource and nat
urally a leader. 1t matters little "he1n-
er he is made titular leader OF tnt
democratic side or not. He Is certain
as things stand now to be one OF the
chief figure. on the democratic side o.
the senate and one Of the most fnf1u'
entail in the coming congress. IL 'n NJ
! democrats depose Senator Martin a!
Header and choose Senator Smith II
a certainty life will be troublesome fo'
the republicans after the next congres!
"opens. They will be kept busy. II I'M
progressive democrats make up incl
minds Mr.. Smith is bent on q thick ant
Thin progressive policy and VIII no
take the conservative side too frequent
Inv. he may be elevated tc the titula
leadership.