The Washington herald., 1913-01-12
BAILEY STARTS
ON WAR TRAIL
Johnstown, Pa, Representa-
tive Wants Patronage for
Northern Democrats.
NOW In THE MAJORITY
Southern Members Now Control Prac.
tically All Plums in
the Service.
NOW in THE MAJORITY

Although some of the more enthusiastic
new members and members-elect on the
Democratic side of the House are in ia
vor of tearing the question wide open
and starting A fght-to- the death revolt
against the Southern Craftsmanship trust
the indications are that the older North
ern Democrats in the House will frown
severely upon any attempt to start the
row when the SiXty-third Congress is Or
Eanized next March. They have found
another means of gathering from the
Southern Democrats spoils of war with
out threatening the programme of the
administration at the butset
RepreSentative-eleCt Warren Worth
Galley of Johnstown, Pa, is on the war
path. and wants to drag William Jen-
ntnGs Bryan along with him Mr.. Bailey
recently passed through WASHINGTON en-
route to Florida. 1t is an open secret
that his business in the South was with
the Commoner and that he wants to OBJ
tain the latter's support to a plan which
Will combine a fight for committee chair
lnanships with Organism in the House
MIR. Bailey, it is understood. started out
some time ago TO test the sentiment OF
democratic members-elect in regard to
the Southern hog combine" and was
Sufnclently encouraged by the replies he
received TO take the trip TO Florida.
While the Northern Democrats in the
House Will constitute nominal majority
Of the Democratic representation at the
next Congress, those members now in
Congress and who have the success of
the incoming administration at heart are
unwilling TO permit an attempt at reor-
Sanization of committees until the party
pledges have been carried out. If the
next organization of the House does not
offer them sufficient recognition they are
willing tc bide their time until two years
hence, when, they believe. they will have
another opportunity.
After Patronage.
But if they permit the chairma nship
question TO go over next March they
will not overlook another opportunity
TO grab off spells available to the ma
jorfty party in the House. They intend
10 go after as much House patronage in
the shape of doorkeepers. messengers
and other House attaches as they can
get their hands on. and the threat of
a possible revolt in the matter of COM
mittee chairmanShips will be used 10
bring the Southern Democrats to time.
BY far, the greatest part of House
patronage in the hands of the Democrats
has been dOled out by influential South
ern members, whose committee chair
manships, gained through the operation
of the seniority rule. placed them in a
position to sway their less influential
This patronage the North |
ern Democrats are prepared TO reach out |
for next session when the House is re-
organized for the Sixty-thIrd Congress, |
end n thorough housekeeping may be |
In order.
Everything to date points to a per-
fectly harmonious House at the outset
Of the next Congress. The Bryan men
are lying low for the present. first, be-
cause they have been warned by their
leader against needlessly jeopardizing
the Wilson administration by a prema
ture revolt against the House organiza-
ton, and, SECONDLY. because they do not |
wish to incur the Odium of defeating
party measures by disrupting the work
ing machinery before il has been tested |
out Mr.. Bryan has let it be known
that if an attack upon the present or
Eanization is made, it must have it's
Justification in some overt act by the
element in the House in or
der that his followers may go before
the country on a Clean-cut issue.