Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-29
CAPITAL IS NERVOUS
AS OPENING WEARS
Of GOTH CONGRESS
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
(COnYright. 1923

Copyright, 1929
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27-One
week before the opening of the 6Sth
congress finds the national capital
in a state of nervousness over the
various situations that are develop
ing and likely to develop.
First, there's fight in the house
over the leadership between Repre-
sentative Graham, of Illinois, and
Representative Longworth, of Ohio,
with the "progressives" supporting
Representative Cooper, of Wiscon-
sir, on the theory that holding. the
balance of power they will be able
to force the selection Of their own
members for important committee
chairmanships.
Second, the departure of Vice Pres
:dent Coolidge from the desk Of pre-
siding officer of the United senate
makes it necessary to choose a per-
manent president of the senate and
Senator Cummins, of Iowa, who was
president pro tenn. during the last
session whenever Mr.. Coolidge was
absent is in line for the position.
But if, he takes it, Mr.. Cummins
may be forced to relinQuish the
Craftsmanship of the committee on
interstate commerce and, under the
seniority rule, Robert n. La Fol
lette, senior senator from Wisconsin,
having served the longest in that
committee becomes entitled to the
ciialrmanship. Out of the I. c. c.
comes bills relating to railroad and
transportation matters. Mr.. La Fol
lette would have a great deal of in
fluence in shaping the governments
railroad policy-or at least sufficient
power to keep the railroads on the
anxious seat with respect to that
clause of the transportation act
which permits them to make a five
and a half per cent return on their
investment.
Support of Lodge
Mr.. Cummins wants to be presi.
dent pro tenn. Senator Henry Cabot
Lodge favors him for the position
ard doesn't see any reason why Mr.
Cummins couldn't retain the COIN
mittee Craftsmanship, too. That
WoulG be alright if Mr.. La Toilette
and his friends consented but they
want to run things in the inter-
state commerce commission and if
they do not get what they want
they can overthrow the whole Re
publican organization scheme by
simply uniting with the Democrats.
The Republican majority is s!en-
der and the support of the La Fol
lette group is needed to carry on
Republican parliamentary maneu-
vers throughout the session.
at iol%
He hasn't been very much in evil
dence during the last three weeks
that he has been in Washington.
Some Of his close friends say he
has an attack of the grippe. 9th
ers hint that his illness is more seri-
GUS. Anyway, it will probably be.
come apparent whether he is in
phyical condition for the battle in
the next congress when the senate
cOnVenes. Mr.. La Toilette is usually
in his seat, on such occasions.
The presidency of the senate car
ries with it an increase in salary
Of $4,000 above the regular salary of
$500 received by senator's, and
friends of Senator Cummins think
"the old man" as they affectionately
call him. should have the added COM
pensation, as he isn't a wealthy
man, and has spent most Of his life
i'll the public service, not, only in
Washington, but in his home state
of Iowa, where he gave his ener-
gies to the governorship in legisla,
tive battles which still are the talk
of the middle west.
Democrats Prepare
While these situations are devel-
oping inside the Republican party,
the Democrats are girding their
loins for a fight that may rival in
interest their adroit tactics in the
middle Of the Taft administration
when in 1910 the Democrats took
advantage of the misplays of their
opponents who w ere divided and
managed to appear before the pub
lie as united party keen to reduce
the cost of living.
Representative Garrett, of Ten
nessee, leader of the Democrats. in
his statement denying that the
Democrats will play politics with
the tax reduction program is laying
the foundations for a campaign that
will not make it possible for the
country to charge the Democrats
with wrecking the tax program,
though Mr.. Garrett knows the radi-
Gals in the Republican party will
make all the necessary attempts to
Illustrate the policy of the admin
istration without any assistance from
the Democrats.
Mr.. CARROTS pronouncement is
considered wise one from the
viewpoint of strategy, as it places
the Democratic party in the posi-
ton of wanting to aid in tax reduc-
tiOn-an admittedly popular policy
but it doesn't commit the Demo-
Gratis to specific aid as against the
radicals, though, when the snow
down comes, enough Democratic
votes probably will be mustered to
save the situation from becoming
hopelessly deadlocked. The atmos
phere is, nevertheless, one of great
uncertainty and doubt as the day for
the season approaches.