Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-14
Representative Aiken Opposes
Kentuckian for Head of
District Committee.
EXPOSES ALLEGED DEAL
TO GAIN GUARDIANSHIP
North Carolinian Says Pact Was
Made by Which Place Should Be
Passed to Him.

\ protest against Representative Ben
Johnson of Kentucky as chairman OF
the District committee of the House
has been filed with the ways and
means committee by Representative
Wyatt Aiken of South Carolina a MEM
Der of the District committee. Mr..
Aiken bases his complaint it is under
stood. on the ground that he was rank
ing member of the District committee
and that he stepped aside in order to
accommodate Mr.. Johnson. who was
anxious to be at the head of the COM
mittee i'm order that the prestige OF
the position would aid him politically
with the possibility of being elected
governor of his state. and claims that
Mr. Johnson then agreed to give way
10 Mr.. Aiken at this time.
In the papers which Mr.. Aiken sent
10 the ways and means committee. it is
reported. is statement from Repre-
sentative johnson to Mr.. Aiken in which
MI Johnson says he has given hard
study to the problems of the District
OF Columbia. and that he has acquired
information and knowledge of matters
pertaining to the District government
which probably no other congressman
mas. and that he believes he ought to
De AT the head of the committee in
order to carry out his fight against
what he considers an unequal condi-
ton regarding the Treasury Of the
tnlted states and a favored few.
InIormatlon gained concerning the
papers filed with the ways and means
committee is to the effect that one of
lhem is copy of a letter written by Rep
resentative johnson to Mr.. Aiken. in
Nhich the chairman of the District COM
HHttee denies having made any agree
ment with Mr.. Aiken to stepping aside
~ this time TO allow Mr. Aiken to become
me chairman. The papers also contain a
elter signed by several members of the
ways ana means committee of the Sixty
second Congress addressed to Mr. Aiken
which states. IL is reported. that Mr.
Vixen would have been chosen chairman
" .ne Hsirict committee had he not de-
ciined II when offered. The letter is said
u De very emphatic on this point and is
signed by Representative Underwood.
Inc chairman. and Representatives Raj
hey. Hull Palmer. kitchin, Peters, Har-
lison. Hammond. Shackleford, James and
iughes.
johnson Offered Place.
The point at issue between Representa-
tves Aiken and Johnson now is that
Representative Aiken wants to be chair
man of the District committee. and it is
certain that Representative johnson has
oeen offered the place. as far as any
"ner can be made at the present stage in
the committee proceedings in the House
The controversy. it is said. is shown in
me papers now before the ways and
means committee. in letters that came
ana went between the two representa-
uves- Mr.. Aiken told Mr.. Johnson that
= he fAiken) I'd stood for the chairman
ship he would undoubtedly have received
=. nut ne informs Mr.. Johnson that he
was anxious to help him. Now Mr.
aiken says. he believes that he is en-
Titled TO the place at the head of the
district committee. and has called on
Representatfve Johnson TO relinquish it.
II IS probably true that Mr. Aiken
POLITICAL pride has been hurt and that
rumors have reached his district to the
effect that he was shouldered out of the
way on big committee assignment and
tuat being made chairman now would dc
considerable toward Strengthening out
matters.
To these claims Mr.. Johnson makes
vigorous denial, according to the
story. He says Aiken had no chance
I" De made chairman. Mr.. Johnson
was not ranking committeeman. but
vas outciassed in position by Repre-
s"ntatIves Rothermel and Pou. Mr..
Johnson claims that Pou had the in
Slde track against the combined
strength of the others 1t is recalled
hat portraits OF Representative POI,
"ere published at the time Mr.. John-
son speaks Of, as the North Carolina
NAN was looked ON by some as a
u"obabie successor to Representative
smith of Michigan. Mr. Johnson SAYS
AIS friends banded together and upset
me Pou possibilities and placed him
Nr- Johnson, at the head of the com
ntittee.
Says He Attended Meetings.
$50 Mr.. johnson is said To have told
Mr- AIKEN that he seldom attended
"ay committee meetings he was not
looked on being interested in the COM
inttee at all Mr.. Aiken has Informed
te ways and means committee that he
did attend every meeting regarding gas
stes, universal transfers, Sunday closing
school matters, etc
IN addition TO the question at issue he
iween Representatives Johnson and Aiken
Representative Rothermel of Pennsvl-
Nania Is involved 10 slight extent. II
is understood that Mr.. johnson wrote 10
NJ Niken saying that Mr.. Rothermel
ed Representative johnson TO ster
asde ia his, ROthermeIs interest Tbs