The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-24
Democrats Prepare for I'm
mediate Party Re-organ-
izatiOn
BRYAN SUBJECT OF
MUCH DISCUSSION
Rumored Differences Between Bryan
and Wilson-Definite Steps To-
ward Sounding Democratic
Congress Taken


| Washington. February 23.-Policies of a
lew administration and plans of a new
Congress will be fairly well outlined with
in the next 10 days Democratic leaders
have prepared for party reorganization
ana the outlining of legislative action im-
modiately after Mr. Wilson assumes Of
fee.
Points about which congressional specu-
lation has eentered for many weeks Will
be cleared up, It Is believed by March g.
These include the make up of President
| wilson's cabinet relations between MI.
Wilson and Williarn ]. Bryan. subject
Of much gossip the last week: the per-
scnnel of the democratic membership OF
tho tariff making ways and means COM
lnittee, the scope of the reorganization
hight in the Senate and the approximate
date for convening the extra session or
Congress.
Definite steps toward launching the
democratic Congress have been taken. The
House CAUCUS, called for March 5, Will
name the democratic members OF the ways
and means committee, attend to otner
matters of party reorganization and fur
fsh the basis of taritf discussion from
which party leaders will proceed IN writ
ing the tariff revision bills
Organize Senate Fight
The reorganization night in the Senate,
after many conferences during the last
| few weeks, apparently has centered about
the effort to name Senator John w. Kern
| OF Indiana caucus chairman, post
thar has been held by Senator Martin or
Virginia. The so-eaied progressive DEM
ocrats of the Senate insisted today that
tho reorganization would not develop into
contest between Senator Kern ana SEN
atol Martin, but declared that the selec-
| ton OF senator kern would he part of "a
comprehensive plan OF Senate reorganiza-
tlon in which all elements of the party
Will be brought together.
Ia both branches of Congress the set
tement of internal party organization as
to policies and men Is considered essen
tal at the outset to the smooth opera
ten of the new administration. me
House caucus probably VIII name mem
hers of the banking and currency COM
mittee, and select at least tentatively the
heads of other important committees and
House officers. No question exists over
the continuation of Champ Clarke as
speaker and Oscar W. Underwood as iloor
| leader and chairman OF the ways and
means committed
Silent About Tariff
Profound silence has been maintained
as to the nature of the tariff revision fav-
cred by the present ways and means
committee Chairman Underwood and
members of the committee have declined
to commit themselves upon any definite
rates of duty, or upon any exact plans
for revision, and the general subject OF the
tariff will be taken into the caucus OF
| March 5, and considered by the full dem
ocratic membership of the new House, in
| advance of any positive action by the
ways and means committee toward the
preparation of tariff bills.
! Cabinet gossip has been inextricabiy
woven with all congressional discussion
throughout the week. Democratic lead
| ers who some time ago were confident
| that they could name a majority OF the
members of Mr.. Wilson's cabinet have
beer reticent and uncommunicatiye upon
| the subject for q week.
| Rumors of differences between Mr.. Will
son and Mr. Bryan were in circulation,
but the majority of the democrats in both
! houses declined to accept them as con-
hrmatory of any break between the two
men.
Ii is expected here that President VIII
sons call for an extra session will specify
the tariff as the subject for immediate
| consideration. but that the way will be
left open for the consideration of oher
urgent matters. While Mr.. Wilson has not
|
| reform to the immediate consideration OF
Congress the subject undoubtedly will be
| forced upon the early attention of the ses-
sion, because of the desire of many DEM
| oerats that the money trust investga-
| tion be resumed and that a much more
| ex xnaustive examination be made into
financial affairs and ino the character of
| federal legislation needed.
their counsel on a situation that will re-
qure the immediate attention of the new
administration.
| Mr.. Wilson said tonight that he had re-
| ceiyed no Communication directly or indi-
rectly from officials In the Taft admin
| istration concerning Mexico. IL is re-
forted here that members of the Taft
cabinet have volunteered to place before
Mr. Wilson irumesliat .ly all information
at their disposal so that he may begin 10
famiiarize himself with some of the otfi-
ciai reports before taking office. Mr.
| Wilson had no comment to make on this
| phase of the situation.
| The President-elect and Mrs. Wilson
/ won't to church today and heard SER
| mon eulogizing George Washington The
governor planned to the at the state house
tomorrow for long day with the New
] Jersey Legislature.