The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-04
SMITH VS.. SIMMONS

The latest news from Washington brings frantic exasper-
alton to the reactionaries, both democrats and republicans,
tor it makes certain that Colonel Bryan remains a potent
force in his party. The word from the capital is that SEN
ator Hoke Smith, who is at the head of the movement to
%reorganize the senate committees upon a basis of merit and
to ignore the old seniority precedent, has secured enough
pledges to make certain that his plan will be successful.
This news follows close upon the warning sounded by
Colonel Bryan, who called attention to the danger which
threatened his party if the seniority plan of organization
was followed, as it would place reactionaries in full control
which pledges have been given to Senator Hoke Smith is a
good indication OF the degree Of importance which demo-
Gratis yet attach to the word Of the Nebraska man.
Meanwhile the reactonares are raging; they are calling
Colonel Bryan all the names in their extensive vocabulary;
they denounce him as a mischief-maker and a malignant
despot. They find it impossible to realize that he is vet
reputation of the old seniority rule strikes these reaction
aries as little short of anarchy. Here are paragraphs taken
from eastern reactonary newspapers since the Bryan warm
ing was s~ounded-some republican and some democratic:
begun sn h h: eanp shs"' fss t sf 1e~," ns''sn't IN 'sis ':s".fs: that as ne ns
: rat ' sso sss::S:;: !. s; .ss s.; : sss:zs e z ,s =: democrat: no ss' :S a;%$;
nt be done without disruptns the party: N
opRortnn,ty gu Of the good fortune Of veorys .'"N'. ',"s
eon,To vsr s'' : : 'f"ss serves s@es notice e sat t unless ssf he s" aa Of his 'f fae5a"
i son" es s' of pecr % one les G%aeor'n he ct is s'S pr s%%%st'f so e a%a ' a
SALESMAN an 'S %o p'a aos lot worship ss wants ai the to ,5she Of aF Bryan 2"~es very
# his program were adopted the failure of Mr.. wilson's aamtntsta-
=, It is ; evident ysasn that his hi, e ar tsar means rs a !. : . HI. advice would
a deadly afront to democrats Of prominence and leadership; it would
tonal division: it Would wreck the democratic majority N th he a-
miniSration = Mr. Bryans advice was given with intent I'd
make mischief > = ' To III it means plainly that he does lot
expect to be a member OF M r. Wilson'S cabinet
These commissions were caused by the suggestion that the
control of legislative affairs should not rest upon tradition,
but upon fitness. The reactionaries do not wish that COM
handing positions be awarded upon a basis Of merit rather
than as rewards for long service, no matter what that serv-
ice may have been. With stupid reiteration the tory press
raves at Bryan as the evil genius Of democracy" and the
"thrice-defeated candidate" And, to climax the %outburst,
comes this utterance from one of the best-known tory news
papers of the country.
he best wish that tn Sun can express for the presdent-aect is
tina he IA seize pom the windpipe of Organism at thu very start,
with a IL the strength that the sinews Of his long, lean fingers
possess throttle that persistent m fatal thing into eternal silence.
The case of Smith VS.. Simmons is the cause which will de-
termine to a great extent the success or failure of the demo-
cratic administration. If the Georgia senator is Successful
in deposing the North Carolina senator, who is the head of
the senate finance committee under the seniority rule, there
will be a great victory won for the Bryan faction of the
party; there will be more trouble ahead for the reaction
aries; there will be such a shake-up as we have not Wit
messed in recent years.
And Smith VS.. Simmons is first on the senate trial
calendar.