South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-06
Democrats in Senate Show
Fifty-Six to Republicans
Forty Members - Nine
New Senators Present.
CLOTURE RULE FIGHT
TO BE LIVELY ONE
Changes Bring Little EnCour-
agement For Republicans.
EIihu Root Will
be Missed.

WASHINGTON. Dec 6. - con-
fronted with an internal fight over
itso wn procedure and a mass of vital
general legislation. the senate of the
United States met today to begin its
part in the free-for-aH political and
legislative struggle which will mark
the first session of the 64th congress
When Clerk Banker pounded his
desk with. the ancient ivory senate
gaveI at noon today he faced a
senate in which the democrats con-
troll a comfortable majority. on the
democratic side were 56 senator's,
while the republicans mustered only
40
The opening Of the senate session
was more than usually subdued and
sclemn.-even for the senate. The
democratic majority faced a winter
and spring Of legislative maneuVer-
ing which will complete the record
of the achievements OF the Wilson
administration that will be one or
the controlling factors in the presl-
Dental election next fall. The re-
publicans were on hand TO make the
way clear for regaining the political
ground which was lost in the land
slide of 1912. Both parties were
confronted by a legislative session
which promised to be crowded full
of every brand Of political and law
making trouble.
Nine New Senators.
Nine new senators were escorted
TO the desk to take the oath of Of
fee prescribed by law shortly after
the senate convened They included
six democrats and three republicans,
q gain of three for the democrats
and a similar loss for the republic
cans. The democrats were Oscar w.
Underwood of Alabama, former ma
jority leader of the house, whose
qualities Of leadership are counted
upon to aid materially the demo-
cratic plans in the strenuous days 10
come: James ID. Phelan Of Califor-
MIA; J. c. w. Beckham Of Kentucky
Robert F. BrOussard of Louisiana
who has been on the outs with the
administration ever since the Under
wood tariff bill chopped away the
sugar tariff: Ed. s. Johnson of south
Dakota, and Paul O. Husting Of Wis
consin. The new republicans were:
James ". Wadsworth, jr., Of New
York; Warren G. Harding of Ohio,
and former Sen. Charles Curtis Of
Kansas.
The changes brought little encour-
tho rrnrtI15oau side of
the senate. The place which here
tofore had been occupied by EHhu
Root. whose trained legal mind and
wide experience had often led the
minority through devious ways, was
vacant. But in his place had come
Young Jim" Wadsworth. with
strong record in New York state pol
itics and in the New York legisla-
ture. The return OF Curtis of Kan
sas eliminated the redoubtable in
dependent, BristOw, but returned 10
the republican leaders one Of the old
guard who fought legislative battles
under the old Aldrich leadership.
The tenacious and learned Burton,
whose laundering and long-con-
tinued periods smothered the admin
istration shipping bill and curtailed
the democratic rivers and harbors
bin in the last congress. was not IN
his accustomed place. These were
losses that the republican leaders
felt keenly.
Prepare for Battle.
The promised fight for cloture
rule. 10 curtail the ancient time
honored prerogative accorded every
senator Of talking on any subject, at
any time. and as long as ne pIeases. /
hung like a cloud over the opening
session. Sen. owen Of Oklahoma
was ready to start the first real rules
fight Of the senate with a c.Oture
and he looked for strong
report. Both sides Of the chamber
were tense in the expectation Of the
struggle, for IL was recognized that
in the balance hung the pTctentiOus
legislative program OF the entire ses-
slou-military preparedness, ship
purchase bill, rural credits legisla-
ton. conservation measures, revenue
problem. and the scores Of minor
proposals which must be disposed. /
Unless the cloture fight is disposed
Of or speedily abandoned. both dem
ocrats and republicans are convinced /
that the session will be tied up in
tangle that viii take weeks 10 un-
ravel
Despite the gravity OF the occa- /
sion, the senate was In its best bib /
and tucker for the opening day. A |