Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-06
HOUSE LEADERSHIP
OFFERS PROBLEM
Possible Successor to Repre-
sentative Underwood Be-
ing Discussed.
TALK CENTERS ALREADY
ON A. MITCHELL PAL MER
Whole Thing Dependent, However,
on Albanian Being Sent to
United States Senate.

NOW That the majority leadership or
the House is threatened with vacancy
by the declared candidacy of Representa-
tive Underwood for the United States
Senate, gossip around the Capitol turns
on Mr. Underwood's possible successor as
leader of the House majority. Although
the event of Mr.. Underwood's leaving the
House depends upon the struggle and
whim of Alabama politics, and from pres
ent indications the fight for the Senate
from that state will be no Lilliputian af-
lair, members Of the present House are
already looking toward the next Con-
gress to which viii fall the task Of select
Ing Moor leader. Assuming that the
next House will be a democratic body,
champ Clark would remain Speaker, or
else he would probably assume his old
leadership. That brings the selection of
a head and front for the battles on the
moor, and a pair of shoulders on which
10 rest the burden of the administration S
policy, down to comparatively small
coterie of members
There is already considerable talk
concerning A. MITCHELL Palmer of Penn
syivania, chairman of the democratic
caucus, member of the ways and
means committee. and a. man close in
the confidence of Representative I'm
derwood and other administration lead
ers. His forceful personality wins him
both friends and opponents He Is a
political power in his state and well
versed i'll House strategy He bore
a considerable portion Of the burden
of carrying through the tariff schedules.
On the other hand, it has been said
that Mr.. Palmer may leave Congress
in an effort to become governor of the
Keystone state, and this possibility,
like a thousand others which confront
the practical politicians on the hill. is
but one of the conflicting elements
which make predictions uncertain
Garrett Of Tennessee Mentioned.
Another strong possibility for House
leadership is FINS ]. Garrett of Tennes.
see, who is chairman of the special COM
mittee on the House side for the investi-
cation of the Mulhall charges that an
"insidious lobby is in operation in Wash
ington. Mr.. Garrett was chairman of
the committee on the whole during the
discussions of the tariff bill.
Assuming that the House may choose
a leader from some committee other
than the ways and means, and Repre-
sentative Garrett is not a member Of
that committee, there are several chair
men of important committees at present
who are recognized by House members
as being of leadership caliber Repre-
sentative Hay of Virginia. chairman of
the military affairs committee, is looked
on as one of these.
The handling of the enormous expense
Of the military establishment is a task
for which a man in private life would re-
ceive ten times the income of q congress-
man. and the bitter struggles over ques-
lions of policy favoritism and politics
which are involved every time an army
bill is up in the House has made Mr.. Hay
known as stubborn fighter who will die
In the last ditch rather than give UP to
his opponents.
an influential member OF the interstate
and foreign commerce committee, law
Yer and one of the steady-gOing demo-
Gratis who look upon efficiency as q first
prerequisite in law making, is no tout of
the pale of possibility for House leader
ship. Neither is George White of Ohio a
member of the appropriations committee
II the selection were to be made this
week, Swagar Sherley of Kentucky would
be surrounded by friends. all OF whom
would take off their coats and poll the
House from end to end to have the
Louisville man chosen leader. Mr.. Sher-
ley is now chairman of the subcommittee
on Notifications.
Representative Webb Of South Carolina,
whose ambition is to become chairman OF
the judiciary committee, may be posi-
bility and he may not He Is as much
interested In Alabama politics as any one,
for In the event that Representative Clay
ton of that state. a candidate for the
Senate, leaves the House, Representative
Webb would undoubtedly become chair
man Of the judiciary committee. An
other chairman who is determined not to
be candidate for the leadership Is Rep
resentative Adamson of Georgia. chair
man Of the interstate and foreign COM
merce committee, which will have prob
ably the limelight position for the next
two or three years.
Taking the ways and means commit
tee as at present constituted, the demo-
cratic members in their relative standing
are Kitchin of North Carolina, Rainey of
Illinois, Dixon Of Indiana, Hull Of Ten
nessee, Hammond OF Minnesota. Peters
of Massachusetts, Palmer Of Pennsyl-
vania, Ansberry of Ohio. Garner Of
Texas, Collier of Mississippi, Stanley Of
enc of these has claims for leadership
abilities