The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-11-13
REPUBLICANS WILL
HAVE PLURALITY
Possibility They Will Be in
Majority in House of
Representatives
ALREADY FIGURING
ON CHAIRMANSHIPS
II Republicans Hold Control President
May Not Cali Special Session of
New Congress in spring-Some Dis
tricts in Doubt

WASHINGTON, Nov. l3.-Members Of
the house Of representatives in the newly
elected 65th congress face one OF the most
uncertain organization situations in the
history Of the government With a few
districts still in doubt, the Republicans APP
pear to have a plurality OF four or five
members and possible majority of two or
three when il is figured that an Independ-
eHt elected in Massachusetts, and a Pro
gressive elected in Minnesota probably will
vote with them for organization purposes.
independence OF action has characterized
number of the reelected members on
the Republican side, however, and their
attitude towards Democratic legislation in
the last few years has gwen the Demo
cratic leaders cause for hope that some of
them might carry their independence into
the organization of the next house.
On the face of the unofficial returns the
political division Of the house is so close
that an effective and certain working ma
iority does not exist. While there might
be a few changes when the official returns
are counted, the chances are that these
would not materially alter the general re-
suit In view OF the situation, Demo-
cratic leaders think il improbable that
President Wilson will call an extra session
of the new congress next spring In that
ease 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 speak
crship OF the house and the organization
OF important committees.
As matters stand, the candidate of the
Republicans for speaker will be James r..
Mann, the present minority leader, and
Speaker Clark generally is regarded as the
Democratic choice to succeed himself. Al
ready, however, there are rumblings of
uncertainties because of close political di-
vision. On the Republican side there are
reports of disaiiections against the minor
ity leader as candidate for speaker. As
the Democrats apparently will be in the
minority, some OF the friends OF Champ
Clark are not certain that he will be a
candidate to succeed himself Unless he
can be elected speaker they prefer that he
abandon the race and become a candidate
for minority leader, the post he held fol
many years before the Democratic ascend
aney in 1910. Such development might
precipitate lively contest within the
Democratic ranks with Claude Kitchin, the
present majority leader, and Speaker Clarl
as the rival candidates for the minority
leadership. Until all the votes are count
ed and certificates of election returned, NJ
definite steps will be taken by either side
The congressional result in New Mexico
il doubtful, the chances now favoring tn,
Democratic aspirant. In Pennsylvania
there are two districts and possibly tire,
where the soldier vote when counted ma!
change the results. In two of these Re
publicans and in one a Democrat hav
boen elected by small maiorites on TIN
face Of the returns thus far reported. il
the 10th North Carolina district Britt,
Republican. is claiming the election owe
Weaver, Democrat, by ID majority.