The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-04

and new, mus necessarily remain in the
background, while all democrats remain
in the foreground with the spotlight upon
them. If the democrats had majority
In the Senate such as the republicans held
for years, the new democratic senators
would not be of so much importance. but
their margin of control is so small that
every senator who wears the democratic
label looms large upon the legislative
horizon.
New Democratic Senators
And there is a long list of these new
democratic senators. 1t includes Hol-
lis of New Hampshire, Hughes of New
Jersey, James OF Kentucky, Lane of Ore
gen, Lewis of Illinois. Meyers and
Walshe of Montana, O'Gorman of New
York, Pittnan c. Nevada, Pomerine of
Ohio, Ransdell of Louisiana, Robinson of
Arkansas, salisbury of Delaware, SAT-
roth and Thomas of Colorado, Sheppard
of Texas, Shields of Tennessee, Smith of
Georgia, Kern of Indiana, Thompson of
Kansas and Vardaman of Mississippi.
At least half of them come from north
orn and western states and succeed re-
publicans, which makes their position of
all the greater Importance, for naturally
the democratic leaders are anxious to hold
all the ground they have won in the cam
paigns Of the past two years.
No better illustration of the advantage
opened to new senator's can be cited than
to point out the fact that four of these
new democratic senators are on the big
finance committee of the Senate. Under
the old regime no senator who had not
served at least one term and won re-
election could hope to attain a place on
this important committee. 1t was re-
served for the veterans who had been
tried and found true by the powers that
controlled. BuI now, at the opening of
specia. session of Congress which is to
pass a new tariff bill, the committee
which has the most to do toward making
a final analysis of the tariff bill as pro-
posed by the House, includes in its ma
jority membership four senatorial fledg-
lings. They are Smith of Georgia, Thorn
as of Colorado, James of Kentucky and
Hughes of New Jersey.
In Stragetic Positions
The new senators have taken advan-
tnge of the situation and the need of their
votes and the moral effect of their sup
I pert, and through this advantage have
placed themselves in strategic positions.
Only few days ago several of the west
ern democratic senators, with one excep-
ton all of them new members, were in a
two and one-half hour conference with
the President over the tariff bill, and
the pfODIelnS which SnOu1u cO0ITO0I luem
in their respective states when the bill
became effective. 1t is claimed that the
new senators will also come into prom
inence with the administration because of
the fact that they are more tractable with
reference to the tariff than the old vet
Grams who have spent years in the Sen
ate, and who are consequently not in as
close touch with the people and the
change of sentiment in their states as
are those who are just from home, and
who have so recently had their fingers on
the public's pulse. They are easier to get
into line for an administrative bill and
will offer less resistance to the Presi-
dents wishes that the bill be not tam
pered with to any great extent in the sem
ate. For this reason they will get pres
tige and assume importance with the ad-
ADMINISTRATION, which otherwise it would
take them several years service to OBJ
tain.
The eyes of the country will turn to-
ward the Senate next week. for the I'm
derwood bill will be sent to that body
not later than Tuesday or Wednesday.
The House 'wi'i then probably begin to
mark time. perhaps appoint its COM
mittees. and the duty of rushing the tariff
billNthrough the Senate will fall upon the
new leaders liz that BODY. The President
will probably make many visits to the
capitol while the contest proceeds, and
he will no doubt rely much upon the sup
port of the new members of the upper
their opportunity.