Evening star., 1921-09-14
SENATE TO CHANGE.
PARTY LEADERS
Curtis or Watson to Replace
Lodge; Hitchcock to Fill
Underwo0d's Place. \

With Senator Lodge of Massachu-
settes and Senator Underwood of
Alabama, republican and democratic
leaders Of the Senate, respectively.
both serving as members of the
American delegation to the conference
on limitation of ornaments. which
will begin here In November and con-
tinue probably for several months, 1t
Is clear that party leadership on both
sides of the Senate chamber will
swing to other hands, temporarily. at
least. * - ~.
under ss ss,sslss asso, gs.ty
Kansas is..Vice chairrnAn ~ the re-
publican conference and assistant
leader, while Senator Hitchcock or
Nebraska is vice chairman Of the demo-
cratic conferences. Unless some change
is made Senator Curtis would act as
Hitchcock as leader Of the democrats
In the Senate, during the absence Of
Lodge and Underwood.
But in recent weeks, In fact since
the announcement that Sena6br Lodge
was to serve as a Member of the
Limitation of ornaments conference.
there has been a persistent move on
foot to have Senator Curtis succeed
Senator Cummins of Iowa as presi-
dent pro tempore of the Senate. SO
that Senator Watson OF Indiana might
become the floor leader for. the repub-
licans in place Of Mr.. Curtis. Senator
Cummins has been in ill health and
has been away from4he Senate good
deal during the simmer However, 1t
is reported from Iowa that Senator
Cummihs is improving in condition
and may return to Washington. In
such an event, 1t 8 not likely that the
present organization will be changed,
unless Senator Cummins should take
a leading part in the move himself
by retiring as president pro tempore.
senator Watson Popular.
Senator Watson has been promi-
nently identified with the stand pat
element of the republican party. At
Grst it was thought that the progress
sive wing of the republicans in the
Senate would oppose the selection of
Mr.. Watson or any other dyed-in- the
wool standpatter. But 1t appears on
investigation that the progressive re-
publicanS in the Senate today are par
ticularly Indifferent as to who may be
selected as the party leader.
In the opinion of the progressives,
it matters little who is leader today
They are more interested in the legis-
lation considered in the Senate and
are confident that they will be able
to have progressive legislation taken
up when needed. They point to the
Organization of the agricultural bloc
by progressive republicans from the
democrats from the south, and the
effect which the bloc has had on
recent legislation.
Mr.. Watson is personally very pop
ular with the members of the Senate,
whether they belong to the progress
sive or conservative wing of the
party, and the opinion at the Capitol
today is that he can have the job OF
leader during the absence of Senator
Lodge at the Limitation of armaments ts
conference, provided Senator Curtis
and Senator Cummins are willing to
step out of the way, in the manner
already indicated.
coming senatorial election Nn New
Mexico might have some bearing,
however, on the selection of a tempo
Sary republican leader for the Sem
ate. Senator Bursum, who Is up for
election to succeed himself. has voted
iD-eppositiop to SO many Of the pro-
gressive measures which have come
before the Senate that progressive re-
publican senators refused to go to
New Mexico to campaign for him.
Should he be defeated, 1t was said, it
might give the conservative element
might be inclined to put up for leader
a man not SO closely identified with
the conservative wing of the party
as Senator Watson, merely for the
political effect.
There seems little doubt but what
Senator Hitchcock will take up the
duties of democratic leader Vf the
Senate during the absence Of Senator
Underwood. Senator Pat Harrison Of
Mississippi has been very active In
the Senate in recent months as lieu
tenant OF Senator Underwood, and he
probably viii continue 80 as an aide
of Senator Hitchcock.
Both the republican and the DEM
ocratic leaders will continue in Wash.
ington, however, ac the sessions of
the Limitation of armaments confer
ence, and will be available for party
conferences il their presence is
deemed necessary.
That politics will be- lively In the
Senate in coming months seems in
evitable. There is q congressional
election next, with all the members
or the House to be elected and one
third OF the Senate membership. The
tax and tariff bills will afford an ops
portunity for party strife. The hope
Of the leaders on both sides Of the
chamber, however, is that the limita-
tion OF armAments conference will not
become q political foot bail In the