The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-11
LACK OF LEADER WILL HAMPER NO LONGER; PROGRESS EXPECTED
Action Is Result of Presi- dents Decision to Handle Situation as a Practical PoliticianInstead of The0- retical Persuader

Washington, February 1O.-(Specfal.) ) When Champ Clark stepped from the speakers rostrum and took charge of the floor battle in favor of two minor bills connected with the administra- tion's preparedness programme Claude Kitchin, in the estimation of many ob- servers, was transformed from de facto leader of the majority column to . leader fin name only.
 As to whether or not. in the conduct of the campaign for the important bills' Speaker Clark will continue to lead the democratic hosts, remains to be seen. But as indicated above, in the opinion of many observers that very course will be pursued Otherwise, it is whispered. the programme, without leader, will have no chance to survive.
 In the meanwhile Leader Kitchin sat
 grim old warrior from Missouri was
 hailed with enthusiasm. No sooner
 had he made known his purpose. than
 MT. Mann, the republican leader, de-
 
 sirous, it is said, of achieving for his
 party a bit of the glory to follow in
 the wake of preparedness. stepped
 forward and stood with the democrat.
 silent to the rear of the chamber
 NEXT STEP AWAITED n-,. 4..,a t,;tI., ,r,or, ,,ot {,,,nor+op< rrb q [ first made way for the entrance of 300 new students at the Naval academy at Annapolis. The other provided for putting the navy yards at New York and Mare $ Island in shape for the construction of battleships already authorized. The first went through by exclamation, and the votes against the second were not regis tered. '
 While the passage of the bills was as nothing, the incident itself was regarded as one of the most significant of this ses- sion of Congress. As is generally known, the lack of progress of the administra- tion's preparedness bills Is due, in the main, to the fact that the democrats. in re- t spect to this particular legislation, have had no leader. no man to guide, no man ft to smooth over differences, no man to en- scourage those who hesitated to fall into lline for the good of the party.
 < If the prediction that the speaker will become the party leader for the prepared ness measures is true the indications are that the dark cloud which for long has shovered will float away If Clark has taken charge he will insist on hasty ac- tion, and the test may soon be expected.
 WILSON WAS ADVISED When the President returned from his western oratorical junket it is said that democratic leaders advised him to handle the situation as if he were practical politician, rather than theoretical per suader. Immediately thereafter the Pres- ident sent for a dozen or more members of Congress and with each of these went over. according to the belief, the various details of the situation. It is said that he yielded to Clark's insstence that the un- popular stamp tax be removed. and that she government depend for surplus reve- que on an amplification of the income act. and special levy against the manufac- sturers of munitions of war.
 N As result of the reported compromise Speaker Clark took the floor in the ca gpacity of a leader of the majority and fput through the first of the administra- ]Hion's preparedness bills. Among admin istration democrats there is jubilation. The ''pacifists' are apparently stunned, put ready to assert their convictions that irrespective of the swapping of horses n the middle of the stream.'' the pro- gramme will fail.
 Leader Kitchin has made no statement Prospecting the situation.