The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-01
SCHEME TO PUT SENATE IN CON-
TRoL E-REAcEloAAR4Es is
ON THE ROCKS.
NEBRASKAN IS WISE T0IT.
Members Of Both Houses Assume
That the Colonel Is Backed by Presi-
dent Elect Wilson and tho Pro-
gressives Of the Party Are Likely to
Spoil Plans for "Harmony"

Washington, Dec. 31.-Declaration by
gressive democrats must organize the
new senate and control the legislative
plans of the democratic congress after
March 4 has had the effect Of a bomb
among the democratic reactionary
forces in both houses. 1t promises to
wreck some harmony schemes put for
ward by the reactonaries to which
many of the progressives We're yield
ing hesitating consent.
Whenever there is we'll established
purpose to exclude the public interest
from consideration by lawmakers the
attempt to advance it is made by urg-
tng the necessity Of harmony as ple-
requisite to effective action. Harmony
is always established upon basis
providing that nothing more shall be
done for the public than is absolutely
necessary to avert an open revolt by
the public against the party in control.
The Harmony Scheme.
In the present instance the harmony
scheme put forward by the democrats
of the senate has provided that there
shall be elected in that body COM
mittee on committees instead of per-
mitting the appointment of that COM
mittee by the caucus chairman.
It had also been proposed and part
ly agreed to that the committee should
recognize seniority in committee ser
vice as establishing the right of the
member to the Craftsmanship of the
committee, but that where senators re-
ceive, because of seniority, the chair
manships of important committees,
they shall not be made ranking mem
bers also of other important commit
tees.
This recognition of seniority would
have the effect of putting Senator
Simmons, reactionary, of North Caro-
lima, at the head of the finance COM
mittee; Martin, reactionary, of Vir-
ginia, close friend and associate of
Thomas F. Ryan, at the head Of the
appropriations committee, and other
prominent reactionaries at the head of
other committees, upon no ether theory
than that because they have been in
the senate a long time they are en-
titled to this consideration.
All Known to Bryan.
The plan also included the re- cleo
tion of Martin as chairman of the DEM
ocratic caucus, which would make him
the recognized leader of the democrats
of the senate, and place in positions of
authority the men who are denounced
by their more progressive colleagues
as supporters of special privilege.
They are all men who aided Aldrich in
putting through the provisions of the
present tariff law, and many Of them
voted for Lorimer when the test Of
decency was made in the senate of the
United States.
Mr.. Bryan knows all about these
men, He also knows all about the com
promise scheme which Is under con-
sideration, and was in a very fair way
of going through.
Consequently, the Bryan editorial
which might appear to the public as
an academic discussion of the ques
tion of seniority, is recognized here as
just as positive and clear a declara
ton against the harmony scheme and
against the award of important chair
manships to Martin, Simmons and the
others as if he had named them.
In view of the fact that the reaction
ary democratic forces in both houses
believed that their pleas for harmony
accompanied by some slight conces-
sions to the progressive democrats
were certain to succeed in giving then,
practical control of the organization
of both houses, and that the promised
CONTINUED on Page Eighty