The Washington herald., 1913-01-12
War AGAINST
Combinations
At Party Conference Decision
Is Made to Exempt Army
and Navy Officers.
CLARK NO EXCEPTION
Belief Prevails that with the Aid Of
the Presressives Campaign viii
Be Successful.

Democratic Senators IN party confer
ence yesterday before the meeting OF the
Senate, adopted a motion to oppose the
confirmation OF all nominations now
pending In the Senate. or to be sent to
the Senat0 by President Taft before
March 4. except navy and military nom
nations and diplomatic nominations. A
| strong effort was made to exempt the
nomination OF Edward E. Clark to sue
coed himself as Interstate Commerce
Commissioner from the operation OF the
embargo. but II was resisted. Senator
MARITIME OF New Jersey told the Senators
in conference that thsre were many
railroad men. belonging to the brother
hoods in his own State who were lust
as competent to I'LL the office of Inter-
state Commerce Commissioner as Clark
is. This remark was called out by a sug-
gestion from some Senator that Mr..
Clark was very valuable member of
the commission, not only because of his
experience as a commissioner. but be-
cause he was a member of one Of the
railroad brotherhoods and was widely in
dorsed by the brotherhood regardless Of
politics. and that petitions vere pouring
in from railway workingmen all over the
country urging his confirmation.
An effort was made also TO exempt
consular nominations from the Demo-
cratic embargo but this was rejected by
an almost overwhelming vote and only
the diplomatic nominations will be con-
firmed IL the Democrats have their way
Senators Sewlands and Thornton made
an appeal to their Democratic colleagues
not to oppose the confirmation OF nomina-
'tions generally. declaring that Il would
invite the criticism OF the public. as evil
dencing Democratic devotion TO the spoils
system. But Senator Newiands who led
the fight found that he had very little
support. "a o..
Confirm Army Omcers.
The action by the Democratic confer
ence was confirmed later in the day
when AN executive session was held.
which resulted in only two combinations
these being army officers. The Repub-
leans showed no disposition to precipitate
a struggle with their Democratic adver-
saries but they served notice that as
soon as the Archibald impeachment has
been concluded. the Republicans will de-
mand executive session and II is likely
that a deadlock will follow in which party
strife will be shown. The Democratic
leaders claimed yesterday that they
would have the support of most OF the
Progressive Senators In the position they
have taken In opposition to combinations.
II this claim is confirmed the Democrats
will be able to muster a majority Of the
Senate. II Is reasonably certain that a
few Democratic Senators will decline to
be bound by the action OF the conference.
But II IL should come TO a political tug
OF war, the Democrats would probably
win. for the reason that there is no limi-
tation to debate and with such a large
number of Democratic Senators in favor
OF defeating combinations there will be
no difficulty in finding enough Of them 10
occupy the floor in debate and thus pre-
vent a vote. This will be made easier by
the fact that the session Is short and I'M
portant legislative business must be trans
acted and the time that can be consumed
is necessarily limited.
There have been various conferences be-
tween the Democratic and Republican
leaders looking to a compromise, but the
Republicans are not disposed to concede
anything believing that they will gain
decided political advantage II the Demo-
Gratis persist in the policy they have en-
tered upon.