The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-05-15
FIGHT ON NOMINATIONS
SENATE AT CROSS-FIRE OVER
NEW CENSUS DIRECTOR.
Republican Leaders Have Served No
tice that They Expect to Keep
Up Fight Until July.

publicans began their first big fight
on President Wilson's nominations to-
night when the appointment of w. j.
Harris, of Georgia, as director of the
census, succeeding E. Dana Durand,
was taken up in executive session.
For nearly five hours the Senate
played at cross purposes on the Harris
nomination without ever entering
into a discussion of the merits of the
case.
The Republicans forced roll call
after roll call on questions Of pro-
cedure and of tactics which the
Democrats termed dilatory. Motion
to put the nomination over until Fri
day, and until next week were put
and defeated, and finally when the
membership on both sides had dwin-
died away to almost nothing, adjourn
ment was taken until tomorrow at
noon with the Harris nomination still
lust where it was when the doors
we're closed shortly before 4 o'clock.
Will Fight Till July.
Republican leaders have served no
tice that they expect to keep up the
fight against the confirmation of Har-
ris until July 1 at least, when Mr..
Durand has announced his intention
to quit. Under the House rules there
is no question of their ability to
fiilibuster to their hearts content, and
if they are willing to go into long
executive sessions day after day they
can prevent confirmation as long as
their talking powers last.
During the debate tonight an un-
successful attempt was made to in
woke the famous Reed rule" by
which members present in the cham
Der but not voting were counted in an
attempt to disclose quorum. This in
novation brought forth more speech
es and before the session ended most
of the Democrats and large part of
the Republicans had spoken, al
though none touched upon the nomi-
nation itself.
Minority Report Filed.
A minority report against Harris
was filed by Senator Townsend and
Senators La Toilette and Cummins,
also of the census committee, Sena-
tor Burton and other Republicans
were interested in the case. Senator
Burton declared after the debate had
proceeded for several hours that he
was willing to review the history of
census from the present day to the
time of Babylon before he would see
Harris confirmed Mr.. Burton was
strongly of the opinion that Mr.. Du-
rand should have been allowed to
serve out his term.
The Republican fight centres large
ly upon the contention that offices re-
quiring technical knowledge or SCI
entific attainments should not be
given as political awards, but that
qualification and experience should
be the only yard stick. While no
charges have been made against Mr..
Harris, the Republicans claimed that
he was not so we'll qualified by ex-
perience, at least, ITO hold the office
as was Mr.. Durand. Mr.. Harris was
chairman of the Democratic State
executive committee of Georgia in
the last campaign and is known as
an original Wilson man. His ap-
pointment was one of the early ones
to important Offices sent in by Presi-
dent Wilson.
Attempt to Smooth Matters.
Republicans on the census commit
tee served notice almost Immediately
after the appointment that they ex-
pected to fight his confirmation. Ef-
1OrLS were uldue NY OSuOCid aus WIN
wished to smooth out the difficult
ties to have Mr.. Durand retained in
office until July 1, but at a meeting
of the committee ten days ago the
nomination was ordered reported by
a majority vote, Senator Townsend,
the only Republican presnt, voting
against it, and throwing down the
gauge of battle for the minority side.
The fight today began Immediately
after the executive session was order
ed at the request of Senator Bacon.
Such persistent opposition to any one
Presidential nomination has not been
manifested in the Senate for many
years. Hundreds of former Presl-
dent Taft's appointments were held
I'D during the closing days of the last
sessions, but attacks we're not direct
ed towards any individual nomina-
ton and at no time did the Senate
spend so many hours behind closed
doors in the discussion of such ap-