New Britain herald., 1916-12-27
NO MAJORITY IN
THE Lower House
Neither Democrats Nor Repubi-
cans Alone Can Elect Speaker


show definitely that neither democrats
nor republicans will have a majority
of the next house, necessary to elect a
speaker, and that a handful of mem-
bers of minor parties will determine
which side shall control the organiza-
ton.
Conceding seats to candidates in
possession of certificates Of election.
because they are certain to participate
in the organization Of the house, the
personnel now stands: republicans
214 democrats 213, independents 2,
.progressives 2, prohibitionists /, So
cialist /, contested 2. A majority is 218,
hence, should either democrats or re-
publicans win both of the contests,
they still would be short of a majority.
ALI of the Independents are main
tanning strict silence regarding their
attitude on the speakership, but the
democratic and republican leaders
are agreed on how most of them will
VOTE provided caucuses are held and
solidarity maintained by the two old
parties.
Kelly of Pennsylvania, a Progress
sive, who formerly was a democratic
member of the house, is listed as a
democratic probability. So is Ran
dali, prohibitionist, of California, who
voted for Speaker Clark the last time,
and London of New York, socialist,
sits on the democratic side now and
has received favors from democratic
leaders.
Schall Of Minnesota, progressive, the
leaders agree, probably would lean to-
ward a republican candidate if con-
WINGED of his progressivism. He cam
Pc,
ticket during the last campaign, al
though opposed by the regular organ
ization in his state. Fuller, independ-
ent, Of Massachusetts also is classed
as a republican hope.
Martin of louisiana progressive,
comes from a large sugar district in
Louisiana, and has indicated that as
surance of protection of the sugar in
terests will be his first concern in vot-
ing on the organization. He formerly
was a democrat, however, and demo-
cratic leaders hope to get his vote. At
the same time, republicans think he
can be convinced that their party is
the only one which has his sugar in
terests at heart.
Contests in which certificates have
not been issued are in the thirty
second Pennsylvania district, where
Barchfeld, republican,
is cOntesting the election of Guy E.
Campbell democrat who on the face
of the returns won by forty-six votes
and the third New Jersey district,
where Representative Scully, demo-
GRAFT, is opposing the election Of Rob-
ert Carson, republican. Scully now is
reported to have a lead of 125 votes
on the recount but there still are
~
by the courts. At least twenty seats,
it is said, will be contested in the
House after it has organized.
Should the republicans seat both of
their contestants and hold their men,
bership solid for their candidate, they
would need only two Independent
votes to win the speakership, while
the democrats would need five. On the
other hand, should the democrats win
the contested seats, the republicans
would need four independent votes
while the democrats could win with
three votes.
Dissension in G. o. p. Ranks.
There is no question about the
democrats voting solidly for Speaker
Clark, but there are some signs of
strife among the republicans. Repre-
sentative Gardner already has an
nounced his opposition to Represent
tative Mann for speaker. Every effort
will be made by leaders, however, to
have the solid support of republicans
assured in conference before voting
starts.
Representative Gardner, who an
nounced that he would seek to obtain
a republican conference to formulate
policies for the future activity of the
party in the House, did not visit the
capitol yesterday. Mr.. Mann was
there, however, and last night he ex-
pressed the view that the republicans
would stand united at least in the or
ganization of the House.
"I have nothing to say about the
speakership matter Or the Gardner
episode" he said, Except that I still
hope that the president in some way
through Gods providence may aid in
bringing about a peace which shall be
lasting and permanent and provide
for disarmament and the removal of
heavy burdens of military and nav
al preparedness, and if [ can in the
slightest degree assist to bring about
such a result I would rather do that
than to be speaker.
1.-The charge Of Mr.. Gardner that
I am for Prussia and Prussianism is,
of course, utterly untrue. I am for
America first last. and all the time,
and do not take sides in the Europ-
can war. In Mr. Gardeners opinion,
that is my offense.
81 suppose it is inevitable that in
the present situation in regard to po-
litical control Of the house every man
who gets a crouch will be tempted
to buster around and say that he will
not play unless he can have his own
way That is always one of the re-
suits of a very narrow margin of
votes. But in the end I think the re-
publicans will have the good sense to
get together and act as a united party,
at least in the organization of the
house,