The Caucasian., 1913-08-19
No Provision For Filling Ala
bai1a Senate Vacancy.
DEMOCRATS NEED The VOTE
Veterans Of the Civil War Disappear
na From Halls Of Congress-OnIy
six Of the Blue and Five Of the Gray
Are Left In the Senate-Bob Henry
Toying With Woman Suffrage.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Why cannot the lawyers of congress
write intelligent laws? That question
is never answered. Although four
fifths Of the legislators are lawyers,
they do not make laws which can be
construed without great difficulty.
A case in point is in regard to the
vacancy caused by the death of Sena-
tor Johnston Of Alabama. The lawyers
who framed and voted for the seven
teenth amendment under which sena-
tors are now elected do not seem to be
able to tell what that amendment
means in the first real test which
comes under it.
Heretofore governors could I'll sen
atorial vacancies by appointment. The
new amendment clumsiiy provides
that the governor must call special
election or the legislature may empow-
er him to fill the vacancy. But Ala
bama has made no provision for elect
ing senators, hence it is claimed moth
Ing can be done. Maryland also has
complication, both Of which will be
thrashed out after long debates III the
senate.
Want the Vote.
What makes the Alabama case par
ticularly interesting Is the fact that
I the Democrats want that vote In pass
ing the tariff bill. They had only two
majority before with the Louisiana
senators against them, now they have
only one majority, and some Demo
crat may take It into his head to de-
mand something, which the majority
will not give, and turn against the bill.
There is not much possibility Of that
happening, vet the Democratic leaders
are somewhat nervous and would like
to have the Alabama vacancy filled.
Blue and the Gray.
| The civil war veterans are disappear
ing. The death Of Senator Johnston Of
! Alabama takes one more from the
senate. At present there are six
Union and five Confederate soldiers in
the senate. The six are Warren Of
Wyoming, Nelson Of Minnesota, Du-
Pont of Delaware, Bradley Of Ken
tucky, Works of California and Golf
of West Virginia. The five are Bacon
of Georgia, Martin Of Virginia, Bank
head Of Alabama, Thornton of Louisi-
ana and Catron Of New Mexico
Bradley ran away to the war and was
taken back BY his father. Martin was
q Virginia cadet CatrOn Is a Repub-
/ ncan.
Toying With Suffrage.
As chairman Of the rules committee
Bob Henry has an opportunity to toy
| with woman suffrage. They have been
| trying to have committee on woman
suffrage appointed in the house. Such
a committee was named twenty-five
years ago in the senate in order to
give one Of the older minority sena-
tors a Craftsmanship.
| 1t continued as minority committee
/ until the present congress, when the
| woman suffragist senators stole a
march on the others, made 1t q ma
/ jorfty committee, put Charley Thomas
of Colorado at its head and named a
| majority of both parties as members.
That committee reported out the con-
| shtutonal amendment for woman
suffrage. Now the snffragists want a
| like committee in the house, and Bob
Henry is coyly toying with the subject.
Luck With the Democrats.
Congressman Ragsdale Of South
Carolina was determined to make d.
speech in the house attacking the ad-
| ministration currency bill. He was
| urged by all his friends and leading
| members Of the house not to make the
speech, but to let the caucus settle the
| matter. But he would not yield He
| was scheduled for speech on the day
| Senator Johnston Of Alabama died
The house adjourned, and Ragsdale
put his speech on ice, where it will re
| main
| Alabama Guesses.
Much interest is manifested in the
Alabama senatorial contest because
there are four possibilities now mem
bers Of the house. Clayton, Heflin and
Hobson being active candidates and
friends Of Underwood urging him to
take the place The demand for I'm
| derWood comes from those opposed to
Hobson. who fear that he may be able
| to defeat almost any other man. IF
the opposition to Hobson should be di-
lvided between candidates" remarked
Q man familiar with Alabama affairs.
"Hobson will surely VIM
| Block Pension Bills.
Senator Bryan OF Florida and SEN
ator Hoke Smith Of Georgia were seen
standing side by side the other day,
and It developed that they were again
blocking pension bills. Although the
house has determined not to attempt
any general legislation this session, the
senate committees have been meeting
i and reporting bills. among them
number OF pension bills. These were
held up BY the two southern senators
md may not be allowed q pass.