Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-05

Impossible for the TepuQncanS 10 pun
up q solid front in the congressional
elections now eighteen months off.
Many VIII Not Respond.
Notice has been sent out that no
committee assignments will be award
ed to those progressive republican
members who fail to attend the party
caucus. which will rename Represen-
tative Mann of Chicago for minority
leader There are many progressive
repub leans who will so refuse. for
reasons of their own, and yet they will
not accept the invitation to join the
bull moosers Included in their num-
Der will be some of the brainiest men
OF the house on the minority side and
If the plan is followed out, as an
nounced. it will result in making the
republican party absolutely reaction
airy, as an organization, while hereto
fore these progressives have been
given some voice in matters.
On the other hand, the progressive
party leaders have announced that
they will not boost the cause of any
men who do not affiliate with them
outright. q
In the Iowa delegation, Representa-
tive Woods Of the tenth, Good of the
fifth, and Haugen of the fourth, are
ranked as progressive republicans.
Representative Green of the ninth, and
Prouty of the seventh claim to be
progressives, while Representatives
Kennedy Of the first, and Towner of
the eighth, are standpatters, and Rep
resentative Scott Of the eleventh
hasn't aligned himself with either fac
J ton yet.
What Messrs. Good, Haugen and
Woods will do as far as the caucus is
concerned is problematical, though
they will doubtless obey the mandate
and attend. The rest are sure to. !
Good 10 Unique Person.
Mr.. Good OF the fifth, in fact, is one
of the most unique members OF the
house. On every vital question he DIFF.
feTs with the old Cannon, Payne, and
Mann crowd, which controls the repub
llican organization, but through his
faith in the whole republican party, he
has remained within its organization
and by sheer force of his ability he to-
day holds the best position OF any OF
the Iowa republicans, place on the
committee on appropriations. He has
been rendered place on ways and
means, but will decline 1t because he
will move up next to the top Of appro
priations and will be in line for the
craftsmanship, II he remains in the
house until his party regains control
I Murdoch Is Leader.
i Messrs. Haugen and Woods will
likely remain within the republican
organization for reasons Of their own
namely that their campaigns for re
ielection can be handled better
Through the agency Of the republican
party In Iowa than through the bull
moose party. The bull moose organ
ization in the new house will start
on with between twenty and thirty
members signed up as members and
Victor Murdoch of Kansas, as leader
II Murdoch remains on the job and
gives up his remunerative chautauqua
engagements, being excelled as an at
traction on the chautauqua platform BY
only one other congressman, Hobsor
iof Alabama, he will doubtless cause
| some fun. 1t is hardly likely that hi
lwilI remain as close to the Job as Re
publican Minority Leader liam. who
/ is always on the floor and always fight
| Ing any proposition advanced by the
democrats, no matter what It is. i
Mufdock does exceed expectations
however, and a number Of progressive
lily inclined republicans are driven from