Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-11

HOSTILITY OF DEMOCRATIC
OLD GUARD TO BE FEARED
internal Struggle Reaches Point Where
Leaders Become Anxious Over Cues
ton Of Ability Of Party to Make Use
of Majority in Upper Houss-WiIson
Could Relieve Situation.
Especial correspondence


struggle among the senate democrats
has reached a point where many of the
democratic senators fear they are not
going to be able to make use of their
majority in the upper house to control
legislation in that body
In this connection, there has come
UP the interesting and important ques-
ticN whether Governor Wilson is going
to take hand in the senate fight. The
pro2res sive democrats are trying to get
him into it and believe they have his
quiet backing already. Senators Hoke
Smith and Gore of Oklahoma recently
had conference with the president
elect at Trenton for the purpose of lay
ing before him in detail the senate sit
uation and getting him to lend a hand.
Question Of Alternating Old Guard.
Nobody here questions seriously that
Wilson is in sympathy with the pro-
gressive democrats but the problem
confronting MIN is whether to take
such an active part in the fight as will
win for him the hostility of conserva-
tives like Senators Simmons. Martin.
BaEkhead. and others Of the old guard.
Conflicting stories are reaching here
as to what course Wilson is taking.
The progressive democrats insist they
have his support The conservatives
assert that Wilson is opposed to turn
ing Down the old guard senators and
is willing 10 work with men like Sim
mons and Martin.
While the President-elect has been
holoing a conference with Senator's
tn, iC
he will confer in a short time with Sem
ator Simmons. who hopes TO be the
rev chairman Of the finance commit
Progressive Democrats Active.
Much activity has been displayed by
the senate progressive democrats late
~. They have held various confer
ences on the question OF control of the
senate after March. Monday night,
fourteen progressive democrats met at
the apartments of Senator Pomerene
and canvassed the situation. The pro-
gressiye democratic leaders say they
have twenty eight senators pledged 70
line up for electins the committee on
committees: distributing the commit
tee places so that each democratic SEN
ator will have a place on one OF 'he
five big es-appropriatlehs'
judiciary. foreign relations. Interstate
commerce and finance ard for rotation
in the embarrassing of the caucus so
it will not go TO the same senator Tor
two successive terms
TIE prcEressives divided on the
question of whether to allow the con-
servatives the important chairmanships
and balance this by stacking the COM
mittees so the progressives would con-
troll them.
After New Senstorships.
At the same time, it w&s decided 70
try TO increase the narrow margin OF
democratic control in the senate by
trying to capture senatcrships in New
Hampshire, Maine. Illinois and South
Dakota. It is assured that a progress
sive democrat will be elected from Ten
nessee.
While the progressives are busy, the
conservatives are not idle. They are
organizing 10 maintain their power.
Senator Simmons friends insist he viii
have the craftsmanship OF finance ana
Senator Martin, of Virginia, is work
ing tooth and nail to prevent being
ousted as caucus leader. AS the sit
uation stands, there is no doubt that
President Wilson can turn the
situation whatever way he wants 10.