The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-12-19
CURRENCY CAUCUS
TURNED The TRICK
NIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE SOONER
HAD PRESIDENT CONSENTED.
Weak Committee Verdict.-Nuch Cyni-
cal Comment on Lack of Nerve
of Lobby Committee.

Washington, December 13.-Wnat
has been done in the senate in the
way of advancing the currency bill
since the regular session of congress
opened shows what could have been
done at the extra session if the presi-
dent had been willing sooner to per-
nit the measure to be made a party
affair by the democratic caucus route
Had the currency question in the
senate been turned over to the caucus
five or six weeks sooner than it was
and the president was urged by many
Of his sincerest supporters to consent
to this necessary method at the out
set-it is quite possible that the bill
could have been passed before the
special session came to close.
Forced G. o. 2. Senator's Hand.
The point is simply this: Until the
bill was made party measure, thus
demonstrating to the country that the
democratic majority was behind it,
the republicans were in position to
refuse an agreement on date to vote
and escape suffering the whole respon-
slOlIlty lor the delay.
Before the O'Gormans and the Reeds
were called to taw by the caucus they
and few occasional sympathizers in
the senate were helping the marplot
Hitchcock give an exhibition Of demo-
cratic disagreement ana unreauluesS,
and were really more to blame for the
delay than the republicans, who would
naturally take advantage OF ulSsenalon
in the ranks of the majority. Howev-
e., when the democrats put them
selves into phaIanX whose effective
ness and preparedness the whole coun
try could see, and when the respon-
sibility was made to rest directly on
the G. o. P. by the resolutions adopt
ed at the suggestion of the same
shrewd O'Gorman VINO had few
weeks before been practicing demo-
cratic insurgency the republican
senators had to fall in line with the
movement to pass the bill before the
holidays or commit political blund-
er.
They cussed awful" under their
breath and complained that they were
the victims of a piece of trickery, but
the republicans came down without
waiting for any more shots. The fact
is that the O'Gorman resolution to
speed up the machinery before the
holidays was as pretty a specimen Of
political acumen as has been seen
here for years. 1t adds another to
the long chain of circles the democra-
tic leaders have run around their op-
pone1ts In congress since the house
became democratic in 1911.
Fight on Alaskan Railroad.
Be prepared for struggle in con-
gress over the democratic bill to con-
struct government railroad in Alas
ka. President Wilson in his last per-
sonal address to the lawmakers
warmly commended the proposition,
on which the territories committee Of
the house has made a favorable re-
port, sentiment is very strong for
it at both ends of the capitol. At the
same time, there is a stubborn line Of
democratic opposition, to say moth
ing of the republican inclination to
oppose wherever fair opportunity is
offered, and getting the Alaskan rail-
road bill to the president for his sig
nature may be hard job.
The opposition comes from those
who are against the government own
ership and operation of public utili-
ties, especially railroads, or who have
not made up their minds on this mat
ter and fear that the adoption Of the
policy in alaska will be the entering
wedge for the adoption Of the same
policy all over the United States.
Some of those who hesitate about the
governments starting this sort of
thing in Alaska are entirely sincere.
1t is reasonable to suppose that there
are many others VINO represent the
same exploiting Interests" which
caused the blight of public distrpst
to fall upon the Ballinger manage
ment of the interior department in
the Taft administration
Alaska Our New Zealand.
Many who are on principle opposed
TO government ownership of railroads
and other great public utilities with
in the confines of the United States
-o- o-o :, fovor of tno idea in