Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-07
SENATE WITHOUT
EFFECTIVE LEADER
SITUATION PROVES HANDICAP IN
DISPOSITION OF TARIFF
BILL.
NEW MEASURE NOT IN FORCE
UNTIL NEXT SEPTEMBER
Republican. Of Upper House Can't Get
Over Habit Of Still Trying TO Boss
Job and Democrats Are Not Used 70
Taking Initiative = Contest May
Finally Develop New Leader.
Especial correspondence,

w aSnlnSlOn June O-A>dCh VI cL0
fective leadership among the senate
democrats is one of the weaknesses OF
Z; the democratic party in the upper
house which has already developed. 1t
has already proven to be a handicap in
the disposition of the tariff bill and is
likely to prove more and more en-
! barra ssing as the consideration of this
measure proceeds.
! One result of the lack Of strong lead
! ership on the democratic side has been
/ to delay until we'll after the middle Of
June the reporting of the tariff bill to
! the senate from the finance commit
tee. June % is now fixed as the prob
able date for the report. This is at
least month later than it was gen.
orally predicted early in the special
session the senate would begin the dis
cussion of the bill. So late date for
beginning the debate on the bill in the
senate makes it seem improbable the
country will have new tarin law
much if any before September.
Republicans Force Delay.
About a week of the delay is dlo to
the fat republican leaders in the senate
fought to compel open hearings. But
most of the delay is due 70 the fact
the democrats on the finance committee
have proceeded slowly with the dis
position of the work In their hands.
that is the revision of the schedules
and various features Of the bill as 1t
passed the house.
+. may be there is an Underwood
hidden away among the democratic
senators and that he will develop In
the progress of the tariff fight. But he
has not developed thus far. Observers
of the senate continually comment on
the fact that the veteran republican
leaders, experienced by years OF prac-
tice in running things, aer moro than
match for their democratic colleagues.
Party Habits Protruds.
AS matter of wact. few of the DEM
ocratic senators have had experience
in the generalship Of senate business.
Even democratic senators who have
been in the upper house for years have
sat back and allowed the republican
leaders to do the work Of the briga-
diers. 1t was easier to do this and
more of the democrats for many years
had that feeling Of What's the use?"
strongly developed. On the other hand.
many Of the veteran republicans can't
get over the idea they are still run
ming senate business.
Can't Grasp the Rsins.
individually. there are many COM
petent democratic senators. But it Is
different from the house situation.
There. in spite of factional differences,
more of the democrats are willing to
follow the suave. cool. pleasing and
skillful Underwood. No man has yet
come forth in the senate. on the DEM
ocratic side, who combines the force
and ability Of the house leader with his
likeable personal qualities. Senator
Simmons. chairman of the finance
committee, Is an able tariff student. He
| is fighter and a man Of capacity but
he is known as a conservative and the
progressive democrats won't enlist I'M
der his banner. Senator Kern. who Is
the democratic leader. is not master
/ Of tariff Senator Ollie James knows
good deal Of tariff but he Is new to
the senate and the old timers won't
kowtow to him. Hoke Smith has many
Of the qualities Of leadership but many
of his democratic colleagues are jeal-
| GUS Of him. And so it goes. One Of
! the things 1t will be worth watching
| in this session and the coming regular
session is how far democratic leader
ship in the senate develops. Maybe, J..
| Hamilton Lewis will rise to the occas-
ion. He has achieved the assistant
leadership in short order and. whis-
kers Notwithstanding, is recognized by
senators as man Of no mean capac-