Evening star., 1931-12-04

SITUATION brought ABOUT Dy the eHort oil
the Progressive Republicans to dislodge
Senator Moses as president pro tenn
pore. The Democrats planned to vote
for Senator Pittmsn. their candidate
letting the Republicans fight it out
among themselves.
Mrs. Caraway Absent.
Mrs. Hattie Caraway. widow of the
late Senator Caraway. appointed to fill
the vacancy caused by her husband 8
death, was not at the party conference
today.
Senator Robinson was authorized by
the conference to appoint a Committee
on Committees and Steering Com
mittee.
The Democratic Senators reached an
informal agreement among themselves
that II any attempt was made by the
Republicans to keep Senator elect
Bankhead OF Alabama from taking the
oath of office Immediately they would
vote to seat Bankhead.
The Democratic leader. Senator Rob-
inson. was authorized to appoint a
committee of Senators to confer with
a like committee OF Democrats from
the House on the party program for
the coming session Of Congress. These
two committees it is hoped Will help
to bring about a united front Of the
Democratic party in Congress on i'm
portant issues which are to come up
for consideration.
United on Bankhead.
Following the Democratic caucus.
Senator Robinson. the party leader,
said the Democrats believed there was
no justification in fact or in precedent
for any movement to defer or delay
the seating OF Senator Bankhead. and
that all the Democrats would vote to
seat him Immediately II any effort was
made TO make him stand aside untn
the Heflin contest was ended.
Senator Robinson said 1t was his
purpose probably on Monday, to move
that the Senate proceed with the cleo
ton Of President pro tempore The
Democrats, he said, would unitedly
support Senator Pittman of Nevada for
this ONCE and would resist any effort
to give precedence to a motion de-
clsring the Office of President pro
tempore vacant.
The Democratic leader said he would
vote against q motion TO declare the
Office vacant, even If a ballot for the
election of president pro tempore re-
suited in q deadlock. He expla ined
that resolution in the Senate now
stands declaring that president pro
tempore shall serve until his successor
is elected. Senator Robinson's state
ment would seem to dash the hope of
Progressive Republicans that they might
be able to remove Senator Moses from
the office of president pro tempore by
declaring that office vacant.
Senator Black of Alabama was elected
secretary of the Democratic conference
and L. L. Biffie was designated as the
Democratic assistant on the floor of the
Senate.
On the eve Of the assembling Of the
Congress revolt of Republican Pro-
gressives from the West against the
continuance of Senator Moses as presi-
dent pro tempore Of the Senate threat
ened TO upset the Republican apple
cart.
The Progressive Republicans hsv,
sought for some time to find a way tc
humfiate the man who referred t<
them in d speech as the sons OF tn,
wild jscksss," and they see In it with.
holding re-esectie0 to the office ol
president pro ten1p0rs an opportunity tt
attain their end Y
Senator Moses on the eeether hand. ir
an article in the Saturday Evening Pos,
last Summer, Indicated that If he was
denied reelection he would rally some
OF his regular Republican friends about
him and with their aid vote Republican
Progressive Senators out of their Inn
portant chairmanships Of Senate stand
ing committees, Substituting for them
Democrats.
Defiance Is Aroused.
And now some of these Progressive
Republican chairnen. including Borat
OF Idaho, chairman OF the Foreign Re.
lationS Committee: Norris OF Nebraska
chairman of the Judiciary Committee
Nye OF North Dakota, chairman of the
PUBLIC Lands Committee, and La Fol.
lette OF Wisconsin, chairman of the
Committee on Manufactures. declare
with some heat that they will NOT an
pear to yield TO the threat OF Mr. Moses
even TO save their chairmanships and
that they will never vote to re-eiect Mr.
Moses to the office of President prc
tempore.
Whether Moses and his regular Re-
publican friends would 60 through with
ther plan OF retaliation Is doubtful
even II Mr.. Moses should not have the
offlce Of President pro tempore. AT
present Mr. Moses is saying nothing for
publication about tie matter. He is in
New Hampshire and may not get back
until Monday 1t is reported. however
that he has assured at least one Of the
Progressive Senators that he was not
making threat against him when he
wrote his Saturday Evening Post
article.
The Republicans will have a ma
1orlty OF the Senate, it is expected
when the Senate meets Monday. with
~ seats TO 46 or less for the Demo-
Gratis. II the full representation of the
Democrats was on hand, they would
nave At seats, and Senator Shipstead
OF Minnesota, Farmer-Labor. would
complete the membership of the SEN
ate. But Senator-elect. Huey Long of
Louisiana is not coming for the open
ing, desiring 10 remain On the Job as
Governor OF his State for time. and
the Republicans may insist that Sena-
tor elect Bankhead of Alabama stand
aside" until the Senate has an oppor-
tunlty 10 pass upon the contest brought
against him by Senator Hefiin.
few Republican Progressive Sena-
tors could. by voting for the Democratic
nominee for President pro tempore. give
the otflce to the Democrats provided
the Democrats were present and vot-
ing. But the Progressive Republicans
insist they are not to vote for Demo
crat, but for another Republican, either
Senator Jones Of Washington. chair
man OF the Appropriations Committee,
or Senator McNary OF Oregon. assistant
Republican leader II they follow this
program. deadlock will result. with
no choice resulting from the ballot for
President pro tempore, since a ma iority
Is required 70 elect. II the deadlock
persists, Moses still would hold office,
since a resolution of the Senate pro-
vides that the President pro tempore
shall continue to serve until his sue
ceSSOr Is elected
Some of the Republican Progressives
are Seriously considering Offering 9
resolution declaring the Office of Presi-
dent pro tempore vacant. believing that
by such course they may be able tC
oust Moses from the job even though
they are unable TO elect a candidate in
his place
II the Democrats would join with the
RennbnCan PrOOTpcciyeS in St,nnorf ~