The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-01-24
on behalf of the Republican office
holders whose terms have just ex-
pired.
Threat of Retaliation.

The new phase which has come
over the matter presents itself in the
Republican threat that if their Demo
cratic brethren do not yield and show
willingness to confirm Mr.. Taft's
appointments there will be Republic
an opposition of Mr.. Wilson's ap-
pointments when the president-elect
takes office. Now the Democrats will
have control of the senate after March
4, but by an exceedingly slender ma
jority margin. 1t may be that the
Democrats will have a majority Of
two, but 1t is possible that majority
of one will be all that they can mus
ter.
In this case it readily can be seen
that unless after March all the Dem
ocrats are in attendance at the sen.
ate's executive sessions, the Republic.
ans by acting together can prevent
the confirmation Of any appointments
which they choose. The threat at
present extends only to determine
ton to refuse confirmation to those
appointments Of Mr.. Wilson which are
intended to take the places of those
already made by Mr.. Taft, and which
the Democrats are holding UP.
BattIeships Fight Now On.
The yearly fight has been started in
congress on the proposition to au-
thorize the construction Of new bat.
tleships. Secretary of the Navy Mey-
er las asked for three ships, but as
has been explained in previous dis
patches it Is probable that he asked
for three in order that he might be
sure to get one or possibly two.
Some prominent Democratic mem.
bers of the house have started the
fight against battleship construction
on the ground that the money which
thus is used would be much better
spent for public buildings. Last year
there was no public building measure
passed, and as every member of con.
gress is DESTROYS Of getting something
in the shape Of public building for
his district because Of the prestige
which such an accomplishment gives
him at home, it readily can be seen
how strong an appeal there is in the
plan for big public building appro.
priation.
Can Wilson Control Senate?
When Woodrow Wilson first be.
came an announced candidate for
the nomination of his party for
the presidency the contest be.
came, in racing parlance. Wilson
against the field" 1t might seem at
first thought that this was not the
case because Champ Clark had more
votes among the delegates than Mr..
Wilson, but from the very beginning
Of the struggle there was feeling
apparent in Democratic circles that
before the contest ended in the con-
vention hall combination of the
field would be necessary to defeat
Wilson.
1t is today eyerybody's secret, be.
cause the whole matter has -haen laid
bare in previous Washington dis.
patches. that President-elect Wilson
is more concerned over the senate's
probable attitude toward his policies
than he is over any other possible op.
position either from a party or leg
lslative source. The question there
fore which Mr.. Wilson's strongest
Democratic supporters are trying to
answer is whether the Democratic
senators who were with the field,
and opposed to Mr. Wilson's can
didacy because of his supposed rad
ical tendencies, will join with the pro
gressive Democrats to give his poll
'cies the force and effect of legisla'
ton.
Absolutely united Democratic sen
ate support will be needed if the in
coming president is to have things
done as he wants them done. There
are several Democratic senators who
were opposed to Mr.. Wilson as a can
didate for the nomination who to-day
are making brave showing Of 10y
atty and the Wilson Democrats be
lieve that this loyalty will stand the
test when support Is asked for poll
cies which some of the conservative
Democratic senators hitherto have
held as being entirely too radical to
become the law Of the land.
No Certainty Of United Support.
Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia, who
was supposed during the pre-conven
ton campaign to have Harmon lean
ings, is to-day doing his best to helr
along a plan Of Democratic organiza
ton of the senate which will give Mr.
Wilson the support which will bt
necessary If his legislation is to b.
sanctioned in the way that he wants
it sanctioned. There are other sen
ators who prior to the Democratic
convention were for Clark, or Under
wood, Or Harmon, who to-day are say
ing that they will stand firmly in sup
port of anything which Mr.. Wilson
recommends If they believe that bacl
of it is the will Of the party. There
are still other senators OF the con
servative type who have made NJ
promises of support concerning tn,
reform Of the currency. downward re
vision OF the tariff or antitrust legis