The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-08
PROGRESS|vES AIM
TO HOLD CONTROL
IN UPPER HOUSE
Alliance of Democrats With
Republicans May Follow
Conference
SENATOR POMERENE
IS LEADING SPIRIT
Senators Hoke Smith and
Gore Will Ask Aid of Pres
ident Wilson in Com
mittee Appointments

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.---At a con-
ference held today by Democratic
progressives at the appointment of
Senator Pomerene, OF Ohio, a pro-
gram was determined upon that will,
1t is expected. guarantee progressive
control of the Democratic party in
the Senate after March 4th. Assur-
anees have been given the wing that
VIII dominate the Democratic party,
and that 50 far as it is possible the
Republican progressives Will give
their Democratic allies substantial
support in their efforts to wrest the
upper house" from the reactionaries
who have guided II for the past half
century. The progressives are in the
senate saddle, and are determined
to ride.
Senators Hoke Smith and Gore will
visit Governor Wilson at Trenton to-
sssorrow and enlighten him with re-
spect to the exact situation in the
senate and the bearing II has on the
promises of the president-eIeet re-
garding the redemption of campaign
pledges and the party platform. The
men who are honestly with President
Wilson will ask that he give them
hts moral support In their plan to
redeem the senate from the blight
OF seniority and put the men who
represent the people, and not any
particular interest, In control OF the
various committees, and in complete
charge OF all proposed legislation.
Meet With romerene.
Fourteen progressive senator's met
at Senator Pomerenes apartments
and several hours were spent going
over the whole party situation. Il
developed that twenty-eight Demo
cratic senators have bound themselves
together IN hard and fast agree
n1ent to do whatever the majority Of
she progressiyes believe should be
done.
This IL more than a majority OF the
Democratic membership, and Will
control the party's policy. the Demo-
cratic vote. as II stands today. being
forty-niae. cor exactly one more than
enough TO control the whole senate
body. Four concrete propositions
were submitted and an agreement
reached Jpn all bat one.
Here are the propositions;
]. TO make the committee on com
mittees, which selects the member
ship OF all senate committees, cleo
tive instead OF the usual practice of
permitting the caucus to name that
committee. 1t Is understood in this
connection that there shall be united
action.
Places on Committees
:. Each Democratic senator shall
be assigned one place on each OF the
five big appropriations
banking. foreign relations. Interstate
commerce. the judiciary, or In lieu
of such assignment, shall be given a
Craftsmanship OF one of the remaining
impcrtant committees until sysfY
Denesfs tic senator Is provided with
al assignment that plays a big part
In III" affairs of the body.
The craftsmanship of the caucus
hereafter shall not go to the same
senator fer two successive terms Tie
foregoing propositions were agreed 10
practically without dissent.
4 1ha, tile present conservative
or rsactiUnaries who are entitlec 10
the chairmanships OF the big ce,r-
mittee shall be permitted TO have
them, the committee membership.
however. TO be so arranged as to give
the progressives a voting control.
Upon proposition four the confer
ence was not able to agree. and II is
to be considered at a future confer
ence.