The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-04
MANN TO BE LEADER.
And Republican Candidate for Speak
er of the House.

Washington, April 4.-Representative
James r. Mann, of Illinois, was unani-
mously chosen candidate for speaker
and floor leader of the Republicans in
the house of representatives at a caucus
held in the house chamber last night.
He was proposed to the caucus by
former Speaker Joseph G. Cannon and
received the support of the regulars and
those insurgents who were present.
His endorsement means that he will
receive the Republican vote In the
house when a speaker is elected, and
the minority party in the house.
More than a dozen insurgents were
not present at the caucus. In the after
noon the insurgents held meeting, at
which 46 were either present or aC-
counted for. For more than four hours
they discussed the party leadership and
the method OF filling committee as
signments.
While a majority of those present
favored Mr.. Mann as party leader and
approved the plan of having a commit
tee on committees to fill the Repub
lican places, no definite action was
taken on either of these proposals.
Many of those who are opposed to Mr..
Mann did not attend the caucus. There
was no concerted action, however, to-
ward disagreeing from the general
party program.
Among the insurgents who were alb
sent were:
Representatives Norris CNeb), Muir
dock Kan.), Lenroot, Nelson and Coop
er (Wis.). Haugen and Hubbard Qa-),
Davis, Lindbergh and Anderson
CMinn), and Kent (Cal.) Several other
insurgents had not reached the city
The caucus proceedings were har
monious except on the method of Sc
lecting the minority members of the
standing committees of the house. On
this proposition there was a difference
of opinion between those who had adj
vocated the appointment of the COM
mittees by Mr.. Mann and those who
wanted to follow the Democratic plan
of having a special committee to select
the others.
Speaker Cannon strongly advocated
the selection of the minority committee
members by the Republican floor lead
ers. In a characteristic speech he re-
viewed his eight years as speaker and
pointed out the satisfactory results
which he believed had been obtained by
placing upon one man the responsible
ty for selecting the members of the
committees.
Mr.. Madison (<an.), who had been
leading figure at the afternoon meeting
of the Insurgents. advocated the plan of
having committee on committees. He
said it was the only proposition that he
consistently could support as the legiS-
lative body of his state had declared n
favor of it.
The caucus was marked by the first
protest of the Republican minority
against the action of the Democrats in
dividing up the committee places. Mr.
Mann presented a lengthy protest
agains increasing the number of mem
bers on the 10 leading standing COM
mittees without proportionately in
creasing the number of places given to
the minority party
The protest said this would be an I'M
fair apportionment of majority and mi
nority representation and contrary to
the ppracticeS of past congresses. II
declared that whenever the membership
of the committees increased in the past
it has been customary to give the mi
nority a fair proportion of the In
creased membership
The caucus endorsed all of the cleo
tive officers who have served in the Re-
publican house. None of these will be
reelected, however, except the chap
lain, Rev. Henry n. Couden, who mas
been chosen by the Democrats.
Following the nomination of Mr..
Mann as the new candidate for speak
er, he was escorted into the caucus
| (Kan.) and Mr.. Catlin (Mo.) The I'LL
noisan, who has been Mr.. Cannon's
chief lieutenant and warm admirer, was
received with rising cheers.
After lengthy debate, the caucus
voted down a plan similar to the Dem
ocratic method of making committee
appointments through a special cotu-
mittee. 1t placed in the hands of Mr..
Mann authority to name the Repub-
lican members of the standing COM
| mittees. A substitute plan calling for
the special committee was voted down
| by 79 to 80. but the Republicans present
are left free to take whatever action
\ they desire in the house in support or