New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-03
OLD GUARD HOLDS
A JOY FESTIVAL
Meets in Capital to Gloat
Over Democratic Riffs
and 1916 Prospect.
CANNON, AS OF OLD,
HEADS THE COUNCIL
Mckinley Predicts a Glorious
Triumph for the Party,
PrOpped by Youth.

Washington, Dec. 2.-Unconfned JOY
reigned to-day in only one part Of the
Capitol-the little basement room
where Representative Mann has his
Office as minority leader, and the cor
ridor outside it, which held big over
flow rejoicing. Democrats wrangled
and recruited their factions in other
parts of the building, and there was
everywhere the general scurrying that
precedes the opening of Congress. But
the Republicans were happy.
1t was gathering of the clans, a
conference of come backs" and n
f1ocking of lame ducks far more than
a council of the party on the eve OF
an important session. There were faces
around the council table that had been
missing for more than two years.
Party leaders who went out with Taft
were back end fitting on their har-
ness. Seldom has there been so much
Of mutual congratulstion and rejoic-
ing in one room.
And hope! To-day seemed very good
t. these men. but their real JOY was
in tomorrow. This, they told one an
other over and over again, was only
the beginning. The tide had turned,
they swore, and two years from now
would see the same men. with more
recruits in their ranks. but gathering
instead in the big majority room on
the House floor.
At the head of the table sat Minor
ity Leader Mann, who had survived
the 1912 storm and held the shattered
remnants or the old House machine
together. Around him clustered Il
dozen OF the former leaders Nicholas
Longworth, son-in-law of Roosevelt;
William b. Mckinley, of Illinois, one
of the chiefs of the ex-lame ducks;
William S. Bennett, of New York;
Ebenezer Hill, of Connecticut; WILL
lam A. Rodenburg, Of Illinois, and
George A. Loud, OF Michigan.
And when, toward the end OF the af-
sernoon, the crowd at the door parted
to make way for long, black, reeking
cigar, SLOUGH hat, and under and
behind them a gray-bearded, rugged
old man, the party was complete. I'm
Gle Joe" Cannon, ex-chief of the lame
ducks, took his seat as of old at the
head OF the party council.
Representative Mckinley, long a
prominent figure in the party, spoke
Tor the entire gathering when he de-
clared the party war over and national
success in easy reach. Next years Re-
publican convention would be a "love
feast" he said, end the country, which
was swinging toward the Republicans,
would by that time be strongly with
them.
81 have been over the country great
deal and among Republicans every
where | find the disposition to get to-
gether, present united front and
after careful deliberation choose a can
didate who will command the support
of a majority of the people" said Mr.
Mckinley.
"In my judgment the Republican con-
vention will be significant for another
feature. 1t will contain in its make
up more young men than ever before
In fact. one might say to-day that the
Republican party is the young mems
party. The Congress just assembling
contains more Republican young men
than any other in our history, and
you will find when the Republican con-
vention meets that these young men
will write a platform sufficiently mod
ern to make a very popular appeal to
the country.
1.-THE Republicans are gaining
strength daily, but they are not un-
mindful of the fact that they have a
battle before them and are preparing
for it. You can look for a repetition
of the 1896 campaign in energy and
thoroughness, and, ! think, just as
great a victory when the polls close as
the party secured in that memorable
year"