Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-04
At THE CLOSE
OF 63D SESSION
OF CONGRESS
A Fierce Game Of Poll
tics Played to the Con-
StitutiOnal Limit.
Democracy Has Gone Half It's
Length of Rope and 1t Has
Been a Troublous Journey
Republicans Have Been Get
ting Together, the Democrats
Apart-New Troubles Next
Session.

Washington, D. c. March 3.-(SpeciaD.
now changing. Democrats have worried
through their most troublesome session
Of Congress. The end is reached tomor-
row Republicans have made up a good
record Of opposition and find themselves
In better position than ever to prosecute
the fierce game of politics. They have
interposed successfully against several
Democratic plans and have demonstrate
Cd they are strong and virile opposf-
ton party. They have checked the
Democrats in entering upon the dan
gerous policy of government ownership
OF vessels and thus given the American
saipyards better chance to construct
the vessels needed for ocean carrying
trade. What is possibly Of more Import
ance Republicans OF Senate and House
have demonstrated during the past ses-
sion, that their ranks are now pretty
solid once again
Republicans have not been voting to-
zerher with particular unanimity during
the last two years in Congress. A few
OF their number voted for the Under
wood tariff bill, although wishing now
they hal done nothing of the Kind.
Some Of them supported the other big
measures advanced by the Wilson ad-
ministration. When it came down to
the test on the ship bill, however. ali
Republicans in the House voted solidly
against it. This was the greatest party
encouragement that has come TO the Re-
publicans in long time. There was
almost as good a status in the Senate.
1t Is true that Senator LaFollette stood
much with the Democrats on ship bill
contentious and Senator Norris, OF Ne
braska, voted with them some. Never
theless the Republicans showed more
than usual solidarity during that long
struggle. which redounded to the advan-
tage of the Republican party
Democrats are anticipating fresh
troubles when the new Congress assem-
bles The discipline Of their party has
been broken Of recent weeks and Will not
be restored when Senate and House meet
again and undertake TO transact the an
n,ial legislative business Indeed the
next Congress, with Republicans strong
and aggressive in both chambers prom
ises to he the livel.est and most spirited
in generation. Conditions will prob
ably be Very like those in the Fifty-tirst
Congress. during the first half OF the
Harrison administration, except that
the positions of the parties We're re-
versed. Republicans then held the House
by about a half dozen majority and the
margin Of the Republican administration
in the Senate was narrow Republicans.
now, Of course. are up and coming for
hn n iv ybAtr
for winning this prize will inject a lot Of
coming Congress.
Senator Porter J. McCumber. of North
Dakota has played one Of the greatest
Jokes of many Congresses upon the
Democratic majority. He put rural
credits rider upon the Agricultural APP
bill and apparently the Dem
ocrats Will be unable to shake that rider
off. OF course there had been q lot Of
talk about putting such an amendment
upon the Agricultural appropriation bill.
Senator Gore, Of Oklahoma, chairman
Of the Agricultural Committee. had
given notice he would propose such an
but Senator McCumber got
In ahead Of him.
The North Dakota Senator. one OF the
Republicans in Congress, en-
tered upon a speech for a rural credits
one afternoon recently and
he talked at length. His speech extend
ed into the evening and at its close
vote was taken on his amendment. 1t
carried. The attendance was very lean
and most Of the Senators present be-
lieved in the rural credits legislation
The Senator McCumber's amendment
was not exactly what Democrats want
ed. Had not the banking and currency
committee Of the Senate been working
upon a Rural Credits bill for months: