Evening star., 1931-11-30
Political Mill
BY C. Could Lincoln.

sibly three or four, Republican Proges-
siVes to give Senator George H. Moses
Of New Hampshire q spanking is re-
Sponsible for the measure of uncer-
tainty regarding the organization of
the Senate in the coming session of
Congress. Two of these Republican
Progressives, Norris Of Nebraska and
Couzens of Michigan, are reported to
be unwilling to vote at any time for
Moses for President pro tempore Of the
Senate. a post which the New Hamp-
shire Senator now holds. With the
closeness OF the two parties in the Sen
ate, such a detection might make it
impossible for Moses to have a ma
jority and a majority is. necessary for
election of a President pro tempore.
On the other hand, 1t Is also reported
that neither Norris nor CouzenS would
go to the extent of voting for Demo-
crat for President pro tempore, but
would content themselves with merely
casting their votes for some other Re-
publican, possibly Senator Jones of
Washington. Under a resolution
adopted years ago by the Senate, the.
President pro tempore holds office I'M
til his successor Is elected. A situa-
ton may arise, therefore, in which
neither Moses nor the probable Demo-
cratic nominee. Senator Pittnaan Of Ne
vada, can obtain a majority. In that
event, Moses would simply hold on to
the ofice now his.
* \
Senator Moses has not left the Pro-
gressive Republicans in the dark where
| he stands on this issue. He Is threaten
ing, if he Is defeated through action
| of Republican ProgressiveS, to line up
with several of his Republican friends
J to prevent the election of Progressive
! Republican Senators, including Norris
| and CouzenS, as chairmen Of important
Standing committees OF the Senate,
electing Democrats in their places. 1t
/ happens that not only Norris and
/ Couzens have important chairmanships.
| but also other Progressives, incluoing
| Nye of North Dakota, johnson OF Cali
| fornia, La Toilette of Wisconsin, and
| last, but by no means least, Senator
| William E. Borah Of Idaho, chairman
OF the Foreign Relations Committee.
The Democrats of the Senate are
watching the maneuvering of the Re-
publican factions. Some of them would
| be glad to take over the organization
of the Senate and the committee chair
manships, if the Republican regulars
and the Progressives go to the mat and
| cut off their political noses to spite
| their faces. On the other hand, the
| Democrats are wondering just where
| they would stand if they assume con-
| troll of the Senate when they have no
| actual majority When the Senate
meets there will be 48 Republicans,
| provided the New Jersey vacancy Is
| filled; 46 Democrats and Farmer
| Labor. Gov. Huey Long OF Louisiana,
Senator from that State, accord
| ing to all information, Is not coming to
| Washington for several months, wish
| ing to hold on in Louisiana as Governor
| to prevent his arch enemy, Lieut.. Gov.
| Cyr, from becoming Governor. With
out an actual majority, the Democrats
| might find themselves up against a
| good deal Of difficulty II they under
take to run the affairs of the Senate.
With the Republicans in control nomi-
nally, and with a band of Republican
insurgents ready to join the Demo-
| Gratis at any time against the admin
istration. the Democrats have been sit
ting pretty in the Senate for several
years.
There are regular Republicans in the
Senate who, while they appreciate the
chairmanShips of committees they now
hold, would not be averSe to giving
them up to the Democrats and making
the Democrats responsible for the con-
duct of the Senate. They say that the
administration forces now, while held
responsible for legislation in the Senate.
have no real control over it because the
coalition of the Progressive Republicans
and the Democrats can upset their
plans at any time.
The Senate Republicans have been
called to meet Friday in caucus by
Senator Watson, Republican leader of
the Senate and chairman Of the con-
ference. The prediction Is made that
nothing will be done at that meeting
regarding President pro tenpore or the
other officers of the Senate. although
a Committee on Committees will be ap-
pointed and plans made to NIL up all
the Republican places on the standing
committees. The regular Republicans,
in other words, do not intend to bring
up the question Of President pro tenn
pore. If Senator Couzens or one of
other members of the Progressive group
should ask for vote on a nomination
doubtedly would be the nominee.
The whole trouble over the Senate
organization might be avoided by the
simple expedient Of nobodys bringing
up the question of electing a President
pro tempore on the floor of the Senate.
The other officers of the Senate-Secre-
tary and sergeant at armS-have no
opposition among the Republicans, or
none that would 60 to the extent of
trying to oust them, it is said. But
there are one or two Progressives who
may undertake to make trouble for
Senator Moses by raising the question
And If one of them does not, 1t is
doubtful that the Democrats could re-
strain themselves from pitching this
bone of contention into the Senate
chamber.
The Democrats are claiming victory
in the contest for Representative in
the fifth congressional district of New
Jersey, where an election is to take
place tomorrow to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of the late Repre-
sentative Ackerman. They say they
will win by 5000 votes. which is half
the number by which A. Harry Moore,
Governor elect, carried the district on
November 3. They may be counting
their chickens before they are Matched,
however. This has been a strong Re-
publican district. with Ackerman win
ming by some 10000 votes in the elec-
ton a year ago. The Democrats have
imported talent to help them win out !
in the Jersey district, with Senator
Wagner of New York and Senator
Copeland Of the same State, and
Jouette Shouse, chairman of the Execu-
National Committee, on the list of
headliners. The contestants are Donald
H. Mclean, Republican. and Percy H.
Stewart. Democrat. Stewart has been
hammering the Hoover administration
and Mclean has defended the admins
tration. The result Of the election will
be interpreted widely as indicating the
stand New Jersey will take in the ma
tional election next year. Republicans
have been less boastful about claims
of victory, but they have been working
hard.
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