The Washington herald., 1913-03-17
HOUSE MINORITY
IS Thrice SPLIT
Regulars, Progressives, and
Bull Moosers viii Act Inde-
pendently Of Party Whip.
DEMOCRATS ARE UNITED
Leaders Of Factions Are Consulting
with Mr.. Underwood Relative
10 Commitfees.

| Present indications are that the Re-
publican opposition to the Democrats In
| the new House will be spill into three
| organizations.
| At least twenty Bull Moose members
intend to herd by themselves. APPROX
mately twenty Progressives will refuse
to attend the regular Republican eau
| cuseS
The Bull Mouse members intend to
perfect an organization of their own.
While the Progressives, so-called. may
| not have an organization on their own
account. the chances are that only
upon occasion will they vote with the
regulars There will be IA Republicans
and near r-Republicans in the next House.
| Representative James r. Mann of
, Illinois will continue to lead the regu-
| lars 1t looks now as IL Representative
William Hinetaugh of Illinois will act
rs belwether for the Bull Moose. The
Progressives will vote as they please,
sometimes with the Republicans. some-
times with the Democrats, steering gen.
orally an Independent course on all
measures
The Democrats are tickled to death
over the chaotic state Of affairs on the
Republican side II would be a hard
| matter in any circumstances for the
Republicans successfully to fight the
Democrats in the new House. AS stated.
two hundred and ninety-one Democrats,
and one hundred fOrty-four Republicans,
Bull Moose and Progressive. will COM
prise that body. The Democrats have
such an overw helmingly majority that
they are not very much concerned at
this time. K appears. over a tendency on
the part of some among them to buck
the organization.
The Democratic leaders are confident
that while on many occas sions some OF
their followers will insurge. that the
losses will be more than made up by
support extended by ProSressives and
Bull Moose.
Underwood Consulted.
According to the most recent advices.
President Wilson will fix April as
th9 date for the assembling OF Con-
gress in special session. Accordingly,
Bull Moose and Progressive Republi
cans are getting ready for the organi-
cation of the House. Representative
Hinebaugh. spokesman of the Bull
Moose. already has discussed the sub
ject with Representative Underwood.
the Democratic leader. Mr.. Hinebaugh
wanted to know IL the Bull Moose
would be recognized as separate
party in the matter of committee as
signments. He also wanted to know
whether the Bull Moose would be ac-
corded full rights as the minority.
pointing out that in the last election
the new party polled more votes than
the Republicans.
II 10 the understanding that Leader
Underwood told Representative Hine-
baugh that il the Bull Moose set up
their own organizati tion and selected a
leader they would be recognized as
part of the minority and given fair
,,sta
assignments. 1t seems to be settled
that Mr. limbaugh and his fellows
will act apart from the other Republi-
can elements in the House.
Regulars Hold AIoof.
1t is we'll known. OF course. that most
of the Progressivcs will hold aloof
from regular caucuses. The sugges-
ton has been made by some of them
that they should follow the lead of
the Bull Moose and organize by them
selves. This is not approved by
majority of the Progressives. Most OF
them refused formally to quit the
party in last years election. and they
take the position that an organization
such as is proposed would automatic
ally take them out of the party. They
intend to remain Republicans, in name
at least, although most of them are
in harmony with the views of Senators
La Toilette and Bristow. who have an
nounced that they will support pro-
gressive legislation. whether II comes
from the Democratic President or other
quarters.
1t is obvious to Republicans as we'll
as Democrats that cohesive action in
opposition to the dominant party in
the House is impracticable under pres
ent conditions. And IL is this fact that
causes the Democratic leaders TO
snicker when the suggestion is made
that obstacles may be thrown in the
pathway of their legislative programme
by jnsurrection. With the minority
split into three factions and the ad-
behind them. the leaders
are confident that in the House at least
the party will have plain sailing in
the new Congress. |