Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-11-14
WHO'S WA0 IN
. new CONGRESS
! IS DOUBTFUL %
Peculiar and Uncertain organi-
zation Situations Must BE
Faced
POLITICAL DIvY1oN
WILL BE VERY CLOSE
James R. Mann May Be Repub.
lican Coice to Fight for
speakership Of House


Washington, Nov. 13.-Members Of
the house of representatives in the
newly elected sixty-fifth congress face
one OF the most uncertain organization
situations in the history OF the govern
ment s..
With few districts still in doubt,
the Republicans appear to have a plur-
ality of four or five members and a
possible majority Of two or three.
when it is figured that an independent
elected in Massachusetts and Il Pro
gressive elected in Minnesota probably
will vote with them for organization
purposes. independence OF action has
characterized a number Of the rcclect-
ed members on the Republican side,
however, and their attitude toward
Democratic legislation in the last few
years has given Democratic readers
cause for hope that some of them
might carry their independence into
the organization Of the next house.
.. Division 10 Close.
On the face of the unofficial returns
the political division Of the house is
40 close that an effective and certain
working majority does NOT exist In
view of the situation. it is regarded by
Democratic leaders as improbable that
President Wilson will call an extra
session Of the new congress next
spring. In that case the organization
fight will not come until the regular
session in December, 1917, which will
mean maneuvering for more than =
year in the contest for speakership Of
the house and the organization Of i'm.
lportant committees. '~r-,-
!. Mann Choice for Speaker.
= As matters stand today, the candi.
date Of the Republicans for speaker
will be James R. Mann. present min
ority leader. Speaker Clark general
ly IL, regarded fuas the Democratic
choice to succeed himself. Already,
however, there are rumblings Of un-
certainties because of the close polit-
ical division. On the Republican side
there are reports ofr disaffections
against the minority leaders and can
didate for speaker on the part OF
members who. it is suggested, might
vote for Clark instead. Consequently
there is gossip among some Republi-
cans regarding the advisability OF
naming another man as candidate for
speaker il one can be found upon
whom the Republican membership
could unite.
Some interesting and lively party
on. both sides before any
tickets are finally launch
ed is assured As the Democrats ap.
parently will be in the minority, some
friends of Champ Clark are not GER
tain he will be candidate to succeed
himself. Unless he can be elected
speaker. they prefer that he abandon
The race and become candidate TOY
minority leader, the post he held for
many years before the Democratic as
cendancy in 1912. Such develop
ment might precipitate a lively con-
lest within the Democratic ranks with
Claude Kitchin, the present majority
leader, and Speaker Clark as rival
for the minority leader
ship.
New Mexico Still Doubtful.
The congressional result in New
Mexico is doubtful, the chances now
the Democrats. In Pennsyl'
vania there are two districts and pos
sibly three, where the soldier vote,
when counted, may change the results.
In two of these, Republicans, in one
a Democrat, have been elected by
small maiorities on the face of re.
.prns thus far reported. In the Tenth
district, Britt, Republican, is
claiming the election over Weaver.
Democrat, by 13 majority. a..
In the event of Republican organiza-
lien of the house, the majority leader
ship under seniority rule. would go to
Joseph w. Fordney of Michigan, who
would become chairman
)f the ways and means committee.
Among the majority members of that
lCOnCnued oa Page TWO'