The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-06
Dwindling of Democratic Majority Will Necessitate
 General Shifting
HOUSE MAJORITY OF
 DEMOCRATS IS 24
Reelection of Clark Forecast But Nothing Save Perfect 0rganiza- ton Can Save Power
 For Majority

Washington, November 5.-Nans changes In the organization of the m. tional House of Representatives will be made when Champ Clark and .Uncie Joe" Cannon once more face each other across the center aisle at the begin ming of the next Congress. The dwind- ling of the democratic majority, which will drop after the close of the De- cemher session from 140 to 23, will ne- cessitnte "a general shifting of tho working order in the House.
 With their slender majority the demo- crats. while able to re-elect Speaker Clark and retain control of the commit tees. will ba forced to maintain an al- most perfect organization. Even with a full attendance in the House shift of 13 votes would throw the control to the mi- nority side. Practically complete returns tonight gave the democrats 22a, repub- licans 196 progressives ', socialists i, in- dependent 1. doubtful 1. This would give the democrats plurality of 31 over ths republicans and majority of 24 over the combined opposition.
 Result Tn Encouragement
 This narrow margin probably will res suit in arrangement Of committee rep resentation. the democrats now holding overwhelming majorities in all of the standing committees. The falling off of the progressives from 1s in the present House to eight probably will cut down their committee representation materially. and even may lose them the few impor- tsnt places they hold in the present House.
 Democratic leadership in the House will undergo great changes. Representative Underwood was elected to the Senate and will leave the House at the close of the December session. Representative Kitch- en of North Carolina. ranking democrat on the ways and means committee. will claim the democratic leadership by right of seniority. and is expected to have the. support of soutifcrn democrats.
 Representative Mann of illinois un- doubtedly will retain the republican lead- ership.
 The election will vacate five of the li democratic places on the ways and means committee. Representative Underwood goes to the Senate, Representative Ham, mond was elected governor of Minnesota, Representative Mitchell of Massaehu-
 
 tative Palmer of Pennsylvania surren- dered his seat to run for the Senate and was defeated, and Representative Stanley of Kentucky sought the senatorial nomi- nation in Kentucky and lost his place. Representative Murdock of Kansas, the progressive leader and member of tho committee, lost his seat in an effort to go to the Senate. All of the republican members of the committee were returned and in addition Ebenezer ffil. tariff ex- pert and one of the framers of the Payne law was sent back. He probably will make fight for his old place on the coIn- mttee.
 Rules Committee Loses Two
 Two democratic members of the rules committee will not return. Representa- tive Hardwick of Georgia goes to the Senate and Representative Goldfogle of New York was defeated by a socialist. Meyer London. Representative Kelley of Pennsylvania. progressive member of the committee, was defeated by republican and the progressives may lose their place on the committed
 The labor committee lost two delegates. Representatives Bals of Illinois and Walsh Of New Jersey who represented President Wilson's district. Representative Mc- Donald of Michigan, the progressive member, also was defeated. Four demo- cratic members of the banking and cur rency committee failed to be reelected. They were Representatives korbly of In diana, Bulkley of Ohio, Medley of Kansas and Seldomridge of Colorado. Representa- tive Hobson of Alabama, long promi- nent member of the naval affairs com mlttee lost his place in an effort to de- feat Representative Underwood for the Senate Representative BathrlclS of Ohio and Gerry of Rhode Island also will be missing from naval affairs. The demo- crats lost five members on the military af- fairs committee, the republicans one and the progressives one The judiciary com mittee will he practically unchanged.
 In the Senate administration leaders welcomed the indicated increase in the democratic majority. The possibility. of the defeat of Senator Newands of Nevada threatened to leave vacant the chairman ship of the interstate commerce commis- sion