Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-04-06
Representative from Illinois Chos.
en- Candidate for Speaker on
Motion by Cannon.
HE WILL SELECT COMMITTEES
Proposal to Have Appointments
Made by Special Committee
Voted Down, 70 to So
Some Are Absent.

Washington, April 3-Representative
James L. Mann Of Illinois was I'M
animously chosen candidate for speaker
and floor leader of the republicans in the
House Of Representatives at q caucus held
In the House chamber tonight. He was
proposed to the caucus by former Speaker
Joseph G.. Cannon. and received the sup
port Of the regulars and those insurgents
who were present. His endorsement
means that he will receive the republican
vote I'm the House tomorrow when a
speaker Is elected. and that he will he
come the active head OF the minority
party in the House in the new Congress.
proposal TO name a committee to
make appointments to the House commit
tees was defeated ana Mr. Mann will
make the selections The plan calling
FOR tho special committee was voted down
by 10 to IS, but the republicans present
were left free to take whatever action
they desire in the House in supporting or
opposing rule providing for a committee
on committees.
Chairman Underwood Of tho democratic
ways and means committee viii as the
result of to-uight's action by the republi-
ing Of the republican places on all of the
committees
INSURGENTS STAY AWAY.
More than a dozen insurgents were
not present at to-night's caucus. Dur
ing the afternoon the insurgents held
a meeting at which 46 were either
present or accounted for. For more
than four hours they discussed the
party leadership and the method Of
filing committee assignments. While
= majority of those present favored
Mr.. Mann as party leader and approved
the plan of having committee on
committees to fill the republican
places. no definite action was taken
on either Of these proposals at this
iusurgent meeting.
Many of those who are opposed TO
Mr.. Mann did not attend the caucus
tonight. There was no concerted ac-
tion, however, toward disagreeing
from tho general party program.
Among the Insurgents who We're alb
sent from the caucus room tonight
were Norris of Nebraska, Murdoch of
Kansas. Lenroot, Nelson and Cooper
OF Wisconsin, Haughen and Hubbard
of Iowa. Davis, Lindbergh and Ander-
son of Minnesota and Kent Of Califor-
MIA. A number OF other insurgents
had not reached the city.
The caucus proceedings were harmon
lous on all points except the method Of
selecting the minority members of the
standing committees Of the House on
this there was a difference of opinion
between those who advocated the APP
continent OF the committees by Mir
Mann ana those who wanted to follow
the democratic plan Of having special
committee to select the other commit
tees.
CANNON REVIEWS HIS CAREER.
Speaker Cannon strongly advocated Sc
lection by the republican floor leader In
characteristic speech to tho caucus he
reviewed his own eight years a.. speaker
and pointed out the satisfactory results
winch no believed had been obtained by
pl. ing upon ono man tho RESPONSIBLE Inv
for selecting the members Of the COM
IN tees. lie expressed belief that better
c1nmittee assignments would Ire m.de
by this method than through commit
tee on committees.
MIR Madison OF Kansas advocated tho
plan OF having a committee on commit
tees. lie said it was the only PROPOSITION
that he could consistently support as the
Legislative body of his State had de-
clared in favor OF it.
The caucus was marked by Tho fir,
protest of the republican minority against
the action of the democrat ia dividing
up the committee places Mr. Mann ire
sented a lengthy protest against the meth
Cd adopted by the democrats OF lucrcas G.
Ing the number Of members ou tho IS lead
ing standing committees without propnr-
tonately Increasing the number Of places
gwen 10 the minority party. The protest
ceclared that this would he an unfair ap-
portionment and contrary 20 the prac.i,e
or past congresses. lie declared that when
over the membership OF the committees
Increased In the past. it has been custom
Try TO give tho minority fair proper
ION or the increased membership.
CALL 1T STEP BACKWARD
I'VE understand fully that we are In
the minority In the House" read the re-
publican protest I'VE cannot dictate as
TO committee appointments or tho size Of
committees, but we insist that it Is a step
backward"
The caucus selected Mr. Cur1ier Of
New Hampshire, as permanent chair
man and Mr.. Kendall Of Iowa an insur-
gent, as secretary, M Dwight OF New
York was again nominated for republican
whip Of the House, though he announced
in the last Congress he would not again
be candidate. The caucus endorsed all
the elective officers who have served in
the republican House. None ~ these will
be reelected. however. except the chap
lain. Henry y. Couden. who has beer
chosen In caucus by the democrats