Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-01-30


Of the most important committee
chaiTmanships viii be given TO the
conservatives and thus seniority Of
service will be recognized. The pro-
gressive Democrats who viii be in
control Of the majority. however have
planned to so arrange things that on
all important committees the majority
membership shall represent what is
called the more advanced wing of the
party. In other words, the intention
seems to be to give place to many of
the conservatives, but to deprive the
place Of q good deal Of it's power.
There are eight of ten Democratic
senators who stand on the line be-
tween conservatism and radicalism.
These senators have shown q DISPOSE
ton to work in the main with the sen
atOrs Of the more progressive school.
Those Democratic senators who are
described as mildly conservative and
also mildly progressive, have told
some Of their more advanced brethren
that they recognize the party neces-
sity of putting through Mr.. Wilson's
recommendations even if they are
more advanced measures than it has
been the habit of the mildly progress
sive ones to smile upon in the past.
Conservatives May "Be Good"
It is said here by progressive Demo
cratic leaders that the conservatives
in the senate intend to be good to Mr.
Wilson; that most of them want to
come back to the senate, that some of
them have a good chance to come
back, and that therefore they will not
start their campaigns for return by a
quarrel with the leader of their party
on the matter Of progressive Iegisla-
ton. OF course no one knows just
what will happen, but with the old
time conservative leaders in the SEN
ate seemingly willing for the sake of
harmony to accept the progressive die
tum as to committee appointments and
organization generally. there seems
10 be a feeling that there is a good
prospect Of harmony in the Demo
| cratic party in the upper house of
congress.
There is evident today in Washing
ton a determination on the part of
both conservative and progressive
Democrats to have it thoroughly IN
derstOod that Mr.. Wilson's reiteration
of the fact that he is a progressive
/ does not at all interfere with his for
mer promise of non-interference so
far as regulation Of party matters in
house and senate is concerned.
Dislike Munsey's Plan.
The leading Republicans and lead
ing Progressives still are suggest
ing means by which the two par
! ties can get together in order to
present a proper fighting front to
the Democrats the next time they are
met in the field The proposal of
Frank A. Munsey, made some time
ago, is still being commented upon,
for and against" be Republican
members of congress and by leading
! Progressives throughout the land It
seems to be true that MI Munsey's
plan has not met with an OveTWhelm-
ing amount of encouragement.
Men who have followed the course
| of legislation in Washington during
| the past few years are agreed that
/ there is little difference in legislative
I endeavOr between the PrOgressives
and the essive-ReDubiicans, but
it is noticeable here that the latter
good many Of whom are in the house
of. representatives, seem to be at outs
with Mr.. Mu1sey's suggestion that a
holding company be formed to take
over the rank and file of Progressive
ism and Republicanism. The Progress
sive-Republicans now in congress
there are no Progressives as such in
the present body, but there will be
some in the succeeding congress)
seem to be deeply attached TO the
name Republican. and The attachment
springs from two different reasons.
Much In Name.
a sentiment attaches to the name
and because of this a good many of
the Progressive-Repu in CON
gress do not want to give it over for
any other name which can be pro
posed. Others among them stand by
the name because of what seems tC
them to Sc sound political sense. They
have no sentiment about it Whatso-
ever. The organization in their dis
tricts and in their states did it's pro-
Sressive work. they say, under the
name Republican. and that for organi-
zation purposes the name stands and
should continue to be effective.
Members of the Progressive party
in Washington-there are two or
three of them in official positions as
I senatOrs-are just as determined that
the reputation of the name Republi-
| can shall be lasting as some of their
/ gressiye-Repuhlican brethren are
that it shall be permanent. In this
| particular matter there seems to be a
| good deal in a name
/ 1t is perfectly apparent from the
manner in which the Progressives,
/ the Progressive-Rep and the
Republicans comment upon MIR. Mum
sey's proposal for q getting together
| that the name matter, potent as it is
in a subsidiary way, could be over
| come fairly easily if there were auv
present means of starting the work
Of amalganlation. AS things stand 1t
appears that neither the Progressives
nor the Republican leaders want to
get together until one side or the
other gives marked symptoms OF an
| intention to surrender.
even superior in durability TO the
| enamels in which lead is used. The