The Washington herald., 1913-11-26
BULL MOOSE AID
THE DEMOCRATS
Split Republican Vote and
Allow the Enemy to
Step In.
OLD PARTY DISRUPTED
Smoot Leader in Senate-Mr. Mann
Can Do Little Beyond Forcing
Roll Calls.

Fortunate indeed Is the Democratic ad-
ministration that during the most critical
period of its existence faces an enemy
disheartened and disorganized. No Re
publican can see where there Is any use
fighting rs long as the Bull Moose oppo-
sition Is encouDtered in every campaign
where the Republicans might administer
a singing rebuke to the administration
by defeating the party In power. As II
is, the Bull Moosers cast enough votes, In
all elections that mean anything. TO give
the Democrats a victory. And the people
pay no attention to party plurality VIC
tory. The man who wins, whether he
gets majority over his nearest COM
petitor, is elected and his party gets the
credit for the victory.
The Republicans have been trying to
make political capital out of the Oft
repeated statement that Woodrow Wilson
Is minority President; that the COM
bined vote Of Taft and Roosevelt was
much larger than the vote for Wilson.
But even 80 Wilson was elected, and
with him a Democratic Senate and
House.
smoot as n Leader.
The once apparently invincible party
has not been able to hold its professed
members together. while the Bull Moosers
remind one OF a game called "duces wild. !"
They do not all vote with either party
or with themselves. In the Senate such
Republican leadership as now exists
rests with Senator Smoot Of Utah. He
has taken up the mantle and struggles
among folds familiar so long to Aldrich
and Hale. Gallinger, on account NJ age.
Penrose on account OF serious conditions
in the Republican ranks of Pennsylvania,
and Lodge, because OF physical disabili-
ties have all been pushed aside by Smoot-
Among those acting with the Republican
party is the little band which\ followed
La Toilette a few years ago, but they
do not know whether they are Republi-
cans or not. Borah. Cummins, Clapp,
Bristow. and Crawford are among those
| who have been ready heretofore TO be
near-Progressives, but while they do not
proclaim their Republicanism loudly,
they are acting with that party, receiv-
| ing committee assignments and such
| other favors as the party machine dis
penses. Poindexter of Washington, is the
! only Senator openly proclalming himself
Progressive.
In the House the leadership devolves
! upon Jim Mann, the ablest man in
| the Republican party, but the most he
| can do Is to have a constant calling OF
| the roll in order TO show there Is not
a quorum of the House to do business
| when there Is no business to do. Nearly
everyday he is accused OF playing poll
| ties" which is true. for he believes that
the people will take notice of the absence
| Of so many members and when the pri'
maries and elections come around next
year many seats will be filled by new
men. Here Is where II is hoped TO fool
the people. for the Republican leader says
he would support a proposition to ad'
| Journ, but maintains that Il Is the duty
/ OF the Democrats to bring their mem
bers back to Washington and do busi'
ness.
Not Getting Anywhere.
And yet back as far as 1897. when the
Republicans passed the Dingley bill the
| Republicans, under the bold management
/ Of Tom Reed. fixed up an automatic
self-acting rule which adjourned the
House three days at a time. until the
4 Senate had returned the bill. On two
| subsequent occasions the Republicans
pursued a course similar to that which
the Democrats are now doing while wait
/ ing for the Senate to act on the cur
rency bill. They did not lose votes
While Mann may be playing politics.
II is also true that he is not getting any
| where with his game.
| Dissemination on the Republican side
! is Just as pronounced IL not more so
than at any time In the other party dur
ing the long. lean years when the Demo
Gratis were in the minority and their
several factions were making IL impossi
BILE for them to hope for success.
| The Bull Moosers in the House ge
a little personal satisfaction out OF theii
position. but mighty little glory. The
course which they have been pursuins
in Congress dosen't promise anything like
success and parties can't live without
promises at least, even II they don't gei
1