The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-01-31
Threat Of Retaliation.

Threat OF Retaliation.
The new phase which has come !
over the matter presents itself in the |
Republican threat that II their Demo |
cratic brethren do not yield and show |
a willingness to confirm Mr.. Taft's
appointments there will be Republic
an opposition of Mr.. Wilson's ap-
pointments when the president-elect
takes office Now the Democrats will
have control Of the senate after March
A, but by an exceedingly slender ma
1ority margin. 1t may be that the
Democrats will have a majority OF
two, but it is possible that majority
Of one will be all that they can mus
ter.
In this case it readily can be seen
that unless after March all the Dem
ocrats are in attendance at the SEN
ate's executive sessions, the Republic
ans by acting together can prevent
the confirmation OF any appointments
which they choose. The threat at
present extends only to a determine
ton to refuse confirmation to those
appointments of Mr. Wilson which are
intended to take the places of those
already made by Mr.. Taft. and which
the Democrats are holding UP.
BattIeshlps Fight Now On.
The yearly fight has been started in
congress on the proposition to au-
thorize the construction of new bat
tleships. Secretary of the Navy Mey-
er has asked for three ships, but as
has been explained in previous dis
patches 1t is probable that he asked
for three In order that he might be
sure to get one or possibly two.
Some prominent Democratic mem
| bers of the house have started the
| fight against battleship construction
on the ground that the money which
| thus is used would be much better
spent for public buildings Last year
there was no public building measure
passed, and as every member Of con-
| gress is DESTROYS of getting something
| in the shape of public building for
his district because of the prestige
which such an accomplishment gives
him at home, it readily can be seen
how strong an appeal there is in the
plan for big public building appro-
| priation.
Can Wilson Control Senator
When Woodrow Wilson first be
came an announced candidate for
the nomination of his party for
the presidency the contest be
came, in racing parlance, Wilson
against the field" 1t might seem at
first thought that this was not the
case because Champ Clark had more
votes among the delegates than Mr.
Wilson, but from the very beginning
of the struggle there was a feeling
apparent in Democratic circles that
before the contest ended in the con
vention hall a combination of the
field would be necessary to defeat
Wilson.
1t is to-day everybody's secret, be
cause the whole matter has been laid
bare in previous Washington dis
patches, that President-elect Wilson
is more concerned over the senate't
probable attitude toward his policies
than he is over any other possible op
position either from a party or leg
iAlative source. The question there
fore which Mr.. Wilson's stronges
Democratic supporters are trying tt
answer is whether the Democratic
senators who were with "the field,
and opposed to Mr.. Wilson's can
didacy because of his supposed rad
ical tendencies, will join with the pro
gressive Democrats to give his poll
cies the force and effect of legisla
ton.
Absolutely united Democratic sen
ate support will be needed if the in
coming president is to have thing
done as he wants them done. Their
are several Democratic senators VIII
. were opposed to Mr. Wilson as a car
I didate for the nomination who to-da
! are making a brave showing of 10y
atty and the Wilson Democrats be
!. lieve that this loyalty will stand tn
. test when support is asked for pol
! cies which some Of the conservativ
: Democratic senators hitherto hav
!. held as being entirely too radical t
n become the law Of the land.
d No Certainty Of United Support.
i Senator Hoke Smith Of Georgia, VIII
+ was supposed during the pre-conveI
Y ton campaign to have Harmon leal
ings, is to-day doing his best to hel
Il along a plan of Democratic organic;
D. ton of the senate which will give NJ
It Wilson the support which will
r necessary If his legislation is to b
It sanctioned in the way that he want
n it sanctioned There are other sci
It ators who prior to the Democrat
o convention were for Clark, or Unde
It wood, or Harmon, who to-day are sa
IT ing that they will stand firmly in SUI
port of anything which Mr.. Wilso
recommends if they believe that bac
n of it is the will of the party. Thel
p are still other senators of the Co
N sentative type who have made 1
e promises of support concerning Il
d, reform OF the currency. downward r
g vision of the tariff or antitrust legi
n lation in the forms in which it is b
N lieved Mr. Wilson will ask congress