Ripley County democrat., 1913-01-17

holders whose terms have lust sz-
piref.
Threat ef BstaiIatiOn.
The new phase which has come
over the matter presents itself in the
Republican threat that II their Demo
cratic brethren do not yield and show
. willingness to confirm Mr.. Tafts
appointments there viii be Republic
an opposition Of Mr.. Wilson's ap-
pointments when the president-elect
takes ONCE. Now the Democrats will
have control Of the senate after March
4, but by an exceedingly slender ma
.tority margin. It may be that the
Democrats will have . majority OF
two, but II is possible that majority
Of one win be an that they can mus
ter.
In this case 1t readily can be seen
that unless after March 4 all the Dem.
ocrats 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 determine
tion to refuse confirmation to those
appointments of Mr.. Wilson which are
tntended to take the places of those
already made by Mr.. Taft, and which
the Democrats are holding up.
5attleshlps Fight Now On.
The yearly fight has been started In
congress on the proposition to au
thorize the construction of new ba'
tleships. Secretary OF the Navy Mey
or has asked for three ships, but as
has been explained in previous dis
patches 1t 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 desirous of getting something
in the shape OF public building fol
his district because OF the prestige
which such an accomplishment gives
him at home, 1t readily can be seen
how strong an appeal there ls In the
plan for a big public building appro
priation.
Can Wilson Control Senats7
When Woodrow Wilson first be
came an announced candidate fol
the nomination of his party fol
the presidency the contest be
came. in racing parlance, Wilson
against the field" 1t might seem al
first thought that this was not the
case because Champ Clark had more
votes among the delegates than MIR
Wilson. but from the very beginning
of the struggle there was feeling
apparent In Democratic circles thai
before the contest ended in the con
vention hall a combination OF the
field would be necessary TO defeaI
Wilson.
1t Is to-day everybody's secret. be
cause the whole matter has been lait
bare in previous Washington dis
patches, that PEesideht-elect Wilson
is more concerned over the senate'f
probable attitude tswaId bis policies
than he Is over any other possible op
position either from a party or leg
lislatiye source. The question there
fore which Mr., Wilson's strongest
Democratic supporters are trying tC
Enswer IL whether the Democratic
senators who were with "the neld.
and opposed 70 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 q legisla
tion.
Absolutely united Democratic sen
ate support will be needed II the in
coming president 10 to have thingi
done as he wants them done. There
are several Democratic senator's whS
we're opRpsed to Mr. Wtsop as can
didats for the nomination who to-da,
are making q brave showing of 10y
atty and the Wilson Democrats be
lieve that this loyalty will stand th,
test when support IL asked for poll
ciea which aome of the conservative
Democratic senators hitherto hav,
held a. being entirely too radical Il
become the law of the land.
Ne Certainty Of United Support.
Senator Hoke Smith Of Georgia, VIII,
wss supposed during the pre-conven
tion campaign to have Harmon lean
ings, 10 to-day doing his best to hell
along = plan OF Democratic organiza
ton OF the senate which will give Mr.
Wilson the support which vii b,
necessary II big legislation ID to b,
sanctioned In the way that he want
It sanctioned. There are other sen
alors who prior 70 the Democratic
convention wers for Clark. or Under
wood. or Harmon. Who today are say
Ing that they win stand firmly u sun
port OF anything which Mr.. Wiisol
recommends II they believe that hacl
Of 1t Ii the viii Of the party, Thss'
are stiu other senators Of the con
servative type who have made NJ
promises Of support concerning tn
reform of the currency. downward re
vision Of the tariff or anti.trust legii
lation In the forms In which Il ID bs
usved Mr.. Wilson viii ask congress
u deal with these questions.