Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-01-31

II the Republicans In the senate
were united. and all of them could be
brought to attend the executive SEES
sions Of the senate, the presidents
appointees could be confirmed despite
Democratic opposition, but the Repub-
lican senators are at variance, not
only on legislation. but on the wisdom
of the appointments which Mr.. Taft
has made. and therefore the present
dominant party In the senate 10 hav-
ing a hard time of It trying to
straighten out troubles and to induce
the Republican senators to line up
on behalf of the Republican ONCE
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 II their Demo
cratic brethren do not yield and show
. willingness to confirm Mr.. Tafts
appointments there will be Republic
an opposition of Mr.. Wilson's ap-
pointments when the president-eiect
takes office. Now the Democrats VIII
have control OF the senate after March
I. but by an exceedingly slender ma
tority margin. It may be that the
Democrats will have a majority of
two. but 1t 10 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 4 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 a determine
ton to refuse confirmation to those
appointments Of Mr.. Wilson which ore
intended to take the places Of those
already made BY Mr. Taft, and which
the Democrats are holding up.
Can Wilson Control senatef
When Woodrow Wilson Hrst be-
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 a feeling
apparent in Democratic circles that
before the contest ended in the con-
vention hall q combination of the
field would be necessary to defeat
Wilson.
1t In to-day everybody's secret, be-
cause the whole matter has been laid
bare In previous Washington dis
patches. that Presidentelect Wilson
Is more concerned over the senate's
probable attitude toward his policies
than he IL over any other possible op-
position either from q party or a leg
islative 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
Giles the force and effect of Iegisla-
ton.
Absolutely united Democratic sen
ate support will be needed II the In
coming president Ii to nave things
done IS he wants them done. There
are several Democratic senators who
were opposed to Mr.. Wilson az u can
didate for the nomination who to-day
are making q brave showing of 10y
atty and the Wilson Democrats be-
liave that this loyalty will stand the
test when support Ia asked fCr poll
cies which some OF the conservative
Democratic senators hitherto have
held a. 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-conyen-
ton campaign to have Harmon lean
ings, 10 to-day doing his best to help
along @ plan of Democratic organize
ton Of the senate which will give Mr..
Wilson the support which will be
necessary II his legislation is to be
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 II they believe that back
OF 1t il the will of the party. There
are still other senators of the con-
servative type who have made no
promises of support concerning the
reform of the currency. downward re.
vision of the tariff or antitrust legis-
lation In the forms in which 1t is be-
lieved Mr.. Wilson will ask congress
to deal with these questions.
The Democrats in the senate there
fore to-day are not yet quite certain
whether the new administration ia to
have plain sailing for its policy ship
through the waters of the senate.
Every effort Ia being made. personally
now among the Democratic senators
who will hold over into the next con-
gress and by correspondence with
new Democratic senators who are to
take their seats on March I. to force
an understanding In advance on the
subject OF general line of progress.
sive legislation.
according to the Lutheran. 10 this
distribution: Asia. 522.636: Africa.
34I,s67: Australia. 17.106. and Europe.