Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1913-03-21
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

In the majority in the caucuses, bind
themselves to be governed by all that
the party gathering may decide upon?
1t Is said today that there will be
about thirty progressiVes in the eau
cuses pledged to abide by the Wilson
will" This is more than party ma
iority, and if the conservative Demo-
Gratis agree to abide by the caucus
decisions in all things, 1t seems GER
tain that the Democratic party will
have real harmony in the upper house
for some time to come at least Con-
cord may be the part OF the Demo
Gratis in the senate, therefore on all
subjects except perhaps the tariff
No one apparently believes that the
caucuses are going to attempt to bind
Democratic majority In the senate
to fixed program on the tariff. 1t is
simply the truth OF the news" to say
that some of the progressive Demo
cratic senators are not in entire ac-
cord with others of their progressive
party brethren on the schedules.
May Make Kern Floor Leader.
One Of the questions which must
be settled in advance of the extra
session is whether or not the present
senate Democratic floor leader, Sen
ator Martin of Virginia, will be chosen
for the same position. 1t is known
that some Of the progressive Demo
cratic senators wish to have the lead
ership given to John W. Kern of In
diana, and 1t may be that they can
get majority in his behalf All Of
the progressive Democrats in the SEN
ate, 1t Is said, are not fixed In their
determination to vote against the Vir-
ginia senator. They probably will
wait to learn II Mr.. Wilson desires
the unhorsing Of the present leader
before they make up their minds def
initely as to the course they will pur-
sue
The progressive Democrats of the
senate call this coming contest re
organization fight" Not long ago Mr..
Wilson thought in no circumstance
would he take sides in advance, at
least In any differences which might
arise In the party in the senate. He
realizes that he will need a united
party In the upper house because the
Democratic majority there is so small
and he probably looks with fear upon
any "ruction" which may come about
or course 1t Is understood in Wash
ington that Mr.. Wilson's heart is with
the progressiyes of his party, but that
he does not wish to antagonize other
men whose support Is needful.
Seniority Has Defenders.
II the Democrats carry their re-or-
ganization fight to the extent of try
ing to prevent Mr.. Martin and Mr..
Simmons and some others Of the con-
sentative old guard from keeping their
present ranking committee positions,
they will have trouble to make the
fight good, for there are good many
progressive Democrats In the senate
who think that seniority ought to
count and that 1t would do no harm
to make some of the senior conserva-
tives chairmen OF committees, provid-
ing the rest OF the committee member
ship is finely progressive"
The extent of the trouble which the
Democrats may have In caucus, there
fore, probably will hinge upon the ex-
tremes to which they attempt to go. |
II they conflne their efforts to secur-
ing a pledge Of united action on all
OF Mr.. Wilson's known endeavors ex-
cept the tariff they will have accom-
plished good deal OF course the
caucus will not take UP each policy |
and vote upon it, but there will be an
attempt made to get some kind Of
general expression OF support for all
proper Democratic endeavor. IT. they |
stop at this and do not rouse individ-
ual animosities by trying to take Sc
niority rights from some of the elders,
they probably will get through with
out very much trouble otherwise
there may be am alignment of oppos-
ing forces from the very first. and this
is the very thing which Mr., Wilson
wants to avoid.
II seems altogether likely that with
the huge Democratic majority in the
next house, there win be put through
any legislation bearing the progress
siye stamp which Mr. Wilson desires
shall 90 through There is no belief
that the conservative Democrats in
The house win attempt to block any
such legislation They know that the
senate, whose members are not so d.
rectly connected with the people and
heir votes, can perhaps be depended
mon to check any legislation which
seems to the house conservatives to
- TOO radical The whole situation
seems. therefore, to hang upon the
senate /