New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-13
Democrats Worried Over Their
Narrow and Uncertain Mar.
gin in the Senate.
NEED ALABAMA'S FULL VOTE
Sugar Schedule Passed Over
Until Mr.. Johnston's Success.
sor Is Seated-Tobacco
Schedule Attacked.

Washington. Aug 12.-With the an
prOach Of the schedules which mark thu
critical points in the tariff struggle party
lines were drawn taut In the Senate to-
day. The Democrats, alarmed over 9
loss in their ranks through the death (
Senator Johnston and the disability Il
Senator Culberson, urged Governor O'Ntal
Of Alabama to call a special meeting Of
the Legislature at once to authorize him
to Ill the vacancy caused by Mr. John
ston's death. For the first time, also. Sem
ator Gallinger, on the Republican side.
called attention to the fact that four Sen
ators were absent and unpaired-Senatcr ~
Works. Stephenson. Burleigh and Fall
Senator Kern who. S leader Of the m h.
jorty, telegraphed Governor ONeal urgi e
him to take immediate action In conve i
ing the state Legislature, called attenti 1
TO the fact that the Democrats needed 7
their available strength to pass the tar
|, bill. The dispatch was supplemented r.
message from Senator Simmons, cha
man OF the Finance Committee, urgi ,
compliance with the request OF Senat
Kern.
Had every Senator been present { B
first important test of strength wor
have occurred to-day when the agricu
ural schedule wes reached. Senat !.
Gronna, Of North Dakota, led the p
tacks on the schedule, Offering amen
ments placing n duty on wheat and raj,
ing the duties on farm products imposed
by the Democratic bill
Thornton RecaIcitrant.
On these amendments the full Repub-
lican strength was centred. and Senator
Thornton one of the two Louisiana recall
citrants. who will vote against the Dill
because of the free sugar provision, cast
his vote with the minority. But for the
absence OF Republican Senator'S the vote
would have been close. The amendment
placing a duty on cattle, which are on
the free list in the Democratic bill, wss
lost by a vote OF 81 10 IS, and other
amendments TO the schedule were defeat
ed by substantially the same margin.
The sugar schedule was passed over
temporarily. ostensibly because OF the III
ness OF Senator Ransdell. The Demo-
cratic leaders are not disposed 10 let this
come to a vote until a successor 10 Sem
ator Johnston has been seated. Efforts
TO reach Senator Culberson, who is said
10 be suffering from a nervous ailment
have been unavailing. II the full Repub-
lican representation is present and tho
Democrats lack the two votes from Ala
bama and Texas and the two Louisiana
Senators join with the Republicans the
vote on the bill will be tie. The loss
Of one other Senator would be fatal 70
the majority.
Tobacco Schedule Attacked.
Further evidences OF recalcitrancy were
apparent to-day. when the tobacco sched-
ule was under consideration. Senator
Hitchcock inveighed against the action OF
the Democratic caucus in binding It's
members TO vote against his graduated
tobacco tax amendment, which he viii
OFFER later.
Even the tobacco schedule. which is eI-
cept FOR one minor change. the same as
the present law, was not immune from
attack. Senator Nelson declared that the
Democrats had been very careful 10 keep
a high tax on the products 81 the South
ern farms. while wheat and other prod
ucts Of .he farms OF the North and Wegt
were placed on the free list
III you want 10 give the laborins man
free bread. why don't you give him free
tobacco asked the Senator from Mn
nesota. Il regard cigarettes as a cure.
but when Il comes 10 good plug tobacco
and good old-fashoned smoking tobacco
the case is different. They are a necessity
TO the common laboring man. Senators
and moralists may smile. but the laoorer
wants his plug in his pocket and his Cd
pipe. a clay or a corncob. with tobacco
in H."