The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-27
Nebraskan Groomsl
Kern for Chairman of
Democratic Caucus.
CLAIMS THE VOTES;
HAS HE GOT TTiEM?.
Count Shows That Virginian,
Lacks But Five Votes of Win
ming Number, While Indi-
ana Man Needs Ten-An rs
Absorbing Battle for New
Administration.
Especial to The Tlmes-Dispatch.1

Washington. February a6.-WilI VIII
liam Jennings Bryan succeed in de-
feating Senator Martin for tho chair
manship OF the Senate Democratic8
caucus and leadership in the Senate. Is
question which is being as much
discussed here tho personnel Of
President Elect Wilson's Cabinet. II
YOU happen to be talking to so
called progressive, YOU will he told
that Senator Kern will be the choice
OF the Democratic Senators. and the
caucus vote viii be twenty sovcn for
Kern and twenty-five for Martin, but.
when tho names of the twenty-seyens
voters arc demanded you will be asked
to wait until March 3. which is tho
time set for the slaughter
Conservative politicians, however, are
not in accord with this estimate, ala
though all declare that tho fight Will
be the bittercst of recent years. They
point out that there arc forty -nine
Democratic Senators who will take part
In the caucus. and that twenty-fycE
votes arc necessary to elect. 1t is con-
coded that Senator Martin has twenty
pledges and that Senator Kern has
fifteen. leaving fourteen Senators who
are on the fence. IL Senator Martin
is able to secure the votes of i've Of
these he will win, while Senator Kern
needs just twice that number.
Ollie James for Mnrtin.
An interesting bit Of gossip in COM
fact that while Sena,or Kern is the
intimate friend and follower OF VIII
liam Jennings Bryan. Senator Ollie
James, equally as warm a friend of
tho great Commoner, Is strong sup
porter OF Senator Martin. still fur
ther complication is the attitude ofsthe
two New Jersey Senator'S. Mr.. MARITIME
aud Mr. Hughes, warm friends OF the
President-clect, Both of these mem
bcrs OF the upner hamber are said to
fx.. k-,, y s-tt .
member OF tho House OF Repre-
sentatives to-day called attention to
the fact that OF the fifteen Senator's
WHO are opposed to Senator Martini
ten are from States west OF the Mis-
sissippl River.
Opposition Unexpected.
Until the beginning of the new year
1t was thought that there would be no
serious opposition to Mr.. Martin. but
it was whispered about that Virginia
had more than her share of honorss
Envioua and hungry politicians pointed
TO Mr. Flood, chairman of Foreign Az
fairs: Mr.. Jones, chairman OF tnaulari
Affairs; Mr.. Hay, chairman of Military
Affairs: Captain Lamb. chairman OF
Agricultural Affairs. and as these
attack. il was determined to assail
Virginian innuencc in the Senate.
Among the warmest supporters of
Senator Martin up to that time were
Senator Simmons, OF North CaroliDn,
and Senator Clarke. OF Arkansas. ~
tt is now recalled that during his
recent campaign for reelection, Sens
ator Simmons declared on the STUMP
that II ne were not chosen chairman
of the Finance Committee OF tho SEN
ate he would resign. eaH
Not SO Certain Now.
AS the date for making that choice
draws near. Mr.. Simmons is evidently
by no means so certain that he VIII
nc given this coveted position. Driven
by desire 10 forward his own inter-
est. 1t is said that Senator summons, II
he has not already deserted Senator
Martin. is at least in a position to
trade with the other side.
Senator Clarke's lukewarnness dates
from the time he was named as pos
sible dark horse, should neither senator
Martin or Senator Kern be able to poll
the necessary twenty-five votes In
cnucus. So Democratic party harmony
is being rudely disturbed, and party
measures are likely to be placed In
jeopardy by the ambitions of somes
added to the animosity OF others.
4 dash OF spice has been added TO
the mix-up by speech delivered with
In the last twentyfour hours by Sem
ator Kern at Grand Army gathering
here
It is stated that Senator Kern, wax
ing warm in his praise of the Union
favor a memorial bridge across the
Potomac peace highway to Rich.
mond or memorial to PRESIDENT Jef-
ferson Davis. until every Northern SOL
dier is rawing a pension and the
United States government is out OF
debt This is translated to mean
never" by those who favor the me
mortal"
Subject of Much Comment.
Coming a s it did. SO soon after Sem
otor Kern's absence of a month frcnI5l
the Senate TO defend the dSnamiters2
at India polls, the speech has beeng,
the subject of all manner of comment.
especially as Mr.. Kern is asking the
support of Southern Senators, who ara
not in sympathy with his pension plane
In striking contrast to Senator herutBS
utterances, was the recent speech mazda
by Mr.. Mann, OF Chicago, the Repup-E
lican leader in the House. Mr.. Mann
said:
II hope soon to see the Federal gov
ernment build a memorial bridge across 4
the Potomac Riber.. connecting what WAS 4
the South with the rest OF tho country.
and from that bridge great hisf.was,s;
built to the city OF Richmond, me
Capital OF the late Southern Confed-2
eracy. and at the end OF that road q
monument erected by the Federal goy-sS
ernment TO a great Southern leader.
Jefferson Davis sS
When Senator Kern was asked 10 - ~
day II his speech had been reportsds q
correctly, he said that as long a. ftneSc "a
is need OF pension bill the time VIII slses !
never be ripe for the erection OF sucnEs
n proposed highway 10
Flood Fitted for Place &:
Especial TO The Times Dispatcf; y,
Wa shington, Febr uary a6s-sr he prs n
tical assurance that Congressman HitfssaSS,, aS,
m -. IN