Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-23
AnARD ROAD TO
'TRAvELF FOR THE
SENATE REBELS
Party Is SIN ar t i n G
Under Walloping Just
Received on Ship
ping Bill
Only Week and a Half More of
Present Session-Bugab0o of
Extra Session Has Passed and
the Packing Up Has Already
Begun.

Washington, D. C. Feb. 22.-tSpe-
ciaD-Senate Democrats have stood
UP to good walloping on the ship bill.
Their discontinue cannot be con-
cealed. At every good opportunity,
they indulge in vituperative remarks
about Judas Iscariots in their own
camp. They mean the seven who
broke away and steadfastly cooperatea
with Senate Republicans to lay the OBJ
noxious ship bill away for keeps. No
one is quite sure yet whether any
thing can come out Of the conference
between Senate and House over this
measure. Presumably nothing can
come Of it and yet Secretary Tumulty
observes that the ship bill seems to
have nine lives.
The only balm in Gilead for the
President has been a Democratic
House. OF course 20 Democrats there
baked but % DO not figure when there
is party majority Of 140 odd. The
administration party consoles itself
with the thought that il does not hurt
in these latter days if the Senate goes
against President but it does never
Senate ranks will not heal. Camden,
Kentucky millionaire who was one of
the boilers. ends his service after
March 4 and will be succeeded by a
Democratic senator entirely loyal -
President Wilson. Burt Barkhead of
Alabama, chairman Of the great post
oTce committee; Clarke of Arkansas.
chairman Of the influential commerce
committee: OGornan OF New York:
Hitchcock Of Nebraska: and HardWich
of Georgia. serve on. They have been
SO severely cnastised by colleagues
that they can not easily return to the
fold and probably will be a neucleus
for trouble making in the next Con-
gress.
The Democratic majority in the Sem
ate after March will be large enough
10 punish these recalcitrants if it wish
es. II could depose them from their
good chairmanships and take the gav"l
away from Senator Clarke, as presi-
dent pro telnpore. But there are
doubts whether this will be done. Some
Democrats, chagrined by the spectacle
the party has made OF itself in the
Senate, think il better to forgive AMI
forget. II there had been good
Democratic leadership the detection
might have been prevented. but there
is no Democratic leadership at that
end of the Capitol. The majority
party in the upper legislative branch
drifts along after fashion, every man
being free TO take care of himself
about the best he can, the while he
tries to keep an ear to the ground fo-
ru.0hlings from the White House.
THAT is worse, vigorous struggles in
the Senate seem to have developed no
Democrat with good leadership quail
fications. This is in contrast with
the Republican side where there are
half dozen men Of good capacity for
taking charge and who enjoy the con-
f1dence of their colleagues. Recently
the Democratic caucus has been nam
ing a half dozen of its men as foo
managers" when an important bill
like the ship measure. was coming up.
Every remaining hour Of the 63'i
Congress is now being counted from
day to day at Washington. This is
positively the last whole week Of the