Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-01-21
Threat of Retaliation.

Threat of Retaliation.
The new phase which has come
over the matter presents itself in the
Republican threat that If their Demo,
cratic brethren do rot yield and show
Willingness to confirm Mr. Tafts
appointments there will be Republic.
an opposition of Mr.. Wilson's ap-
pointments when the president-elect
takes Office. Now the Democrats will
have control of the senate after March
4, but by an exceedingly slender ma
Jority margin. 1t may be that Hle
Democrats will have a majority OF
two, but 1t is possible that a majority
OF one viii be all that they can mus
ter.
In this case it readily ian be seen
that unless after March all the Dem
oerats are in attendance at the sen
ate's executive sessions, the Republic.
ans by acting together can prevent
the confirmation of any appointments
which they choose, The threat at
present extends only to determina-
rio2 TO refuse confirmation to those
appointments Of Mr.. Wilson which are
intended to take the places of those
already made by Mr.. Taft, and which,
the Democrats are holding up.
BattIcehirs Fight New On.
The yearly fight has been started in
congress on the proposition to au.
thorize the construction of new bat
tleships. Secretary of the Navy Mey.
er has asked for three ships, but as
has been explained in previous dis
patches it is probable that he asked
for three in order that he might be
sure to get one or possibly two.
Some prominent Democratic mem.
bers of the house have started the
fight against battleship construction
on the ground that the money which
thus is used would be much better
spent for public buildings. Last year
there was no public building measure
passed, and as every member of con.
gress is DESTROYS of getting something
in the shape of public building for
his district because of the prestige
which such an accomplishment gives
him at home, it readily can be seen
how strong an appeal there is in the
plan for a big public building appro-
priation.
Can Wilson Control Senate?
When Woodrow Wilson first be-
came an announced candidate for
the nomination of his party for
the presidency the contest be-
came, in racing parlance, Wilson
against the field" 1t might seem at
first thought that this was not the
case because Champ Clark had more
votes among the delegates than Mr..
Wilson, but from the very beginning
of the struggle there was feeling
apparent in Democratic circles that
before the contest ended in the con
vention hall a combination of the
Wilson.
1t is to-day everybody's secret, be-
cause the whole matter has been laid
bare in previous Washington dis
patches, that P~esident-elect Wilson
is more concerned over the senates
probable attitude toward his policies
than he is over am other possible OPP
position either from a party or leg
lslative source. The question there
fore which Mr. Wilson's strongest
Democratic supporters are trying to
answer Is whether the Democratic
senators who were with "the field
and opposed to Mr.. Wilson's can.
didacy because of his supposed rad
ical tendencies, will join with the pro-
gressive Democrats to give his poll
cies the force and effect Of legisla-
tion.
ate support will be needed il the in
coming president is to have things
done as he wants them done. There
are several Democratic senators who
we're opposed to Mr.. Wilson as can
didate for the nomination who to-day
are making brave showing of 10y
atty and the Wilson Democrats be
lieve that this loyalty will stand the
test when support is asked for poll
cies which some Of the conservative
Democratic senators hitherto have
held as being entirely too radical to
become the law of the land.
No Certainty Of United Support.
Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia, who
was supposed during the pre-conven-
ton campaign to have Harmon lean
ings. is to-day doing his best to help
along plan of Democratic organiza-
ton of the senate which will give Mr..
Wilson the supporA. which will be
necessary If his Legislation Is to be
sanctioned in the way that he wants
it sanctioned. There ere other SEN
ators who prior to tie Democratic
convention were for ClDk, or Under
rood, or Harmon, who to-day are say
ing that they will stand firmly in sup
port of anything which Mr.. Wilson
If they believe that back
of it is the will of the patty. There
are still other senators o. the con
servative type who have made Do
promises of support concerning the
reform of the currency, downward re-
vision of the tariff or antitrust legis-
lation in the forms in which 1t is be-
Ieved Mr.. Wilson will ask congress
to deal with these questions
The Democrats IL the senate there
fore to-day are not yet quite certain
whether the new administration is to
have plain sailing for its policy ship
through the waters of the senate.
Every effort is being made. personally
now among the Democratic senators
who will hold over into the next con
gress and by correspondence with
new Democratic senators who are to
take their seats on March 4, to force
an understanding il advance on the
subject Of a genera line of progress
sive legislation.
r.