Evening star., 1917-03-12
0F-WAR LIKELY
WHEN HOUSE MEETS
Spirited Fight in View Over
Speakership and Commit
tee Assignments.
NEITHER PARTY CONTROLS S

NEITHER PARTY CONTROLS
| The tug-of-war scheduled for April
1s when the House of Representatives
of the Sixty-fifth Congress meets to
| choose a Speaker and to elect commit
tees. is going to be one of the most
| adroitly managed tests of poiitical
strength the old Capitol has seen since
the night the rules fight began. On
| paper, neither one side nor the other
| has enough strength to elect Speaker.
the death of Representative Sulloway
| of New Hampshire reducing the mem
bership- elect to PA republicans, 2i4
democrats ard independents. two of
| whom will undoubtedly vote for Clark
| and two of whom will probably vote
, for the republican candidate for speak
| er. Representative Martin of Louisi-
ana "protectionist progressive. is still
the prime object of mystery-even to
| himself He says he doesn't know now
| he is going to vote.
But when the politicians on the hill
take stock of what strength they have
parent to many that the democrats
still have a shade the better of the
argument because they are actually
undivided. They will put up solid
front for Clark on the speakershlp
fight. and there has been no inkling
yet that the democrats will divide on
the committee membership vote. ON
the other hand the republicans have
dissa tisfed members in the ranks.
These members are trying out their
strength on various lines and 1t may
be they will carry out their threat
never to vote for Mann as Speaker.
Neither to Dicker for Votes.
These grumpy fellows have learned.
or will learn quite soon. that neither
of the main bodies is going to dicker
for votes. 1t is no secret on the hill
to say that two or three men nave
been hanging back on the presump-
tion that one side or the other would
want to promise a nice prominent COM
mittee Craftsmanship in exchange for a
vote for the speakership. This sound
ed ominous several days ago. but the
general feeling on both sides today is
that there will be absolutely no dicker-
ing. This. it is. argued. would be un-
dignifled, and from a practical stand
point it would weaken the party ac-
cepting vote from the other side on
any such terms. Experienced politi-
clans believe that republican who
votes for Clark as Speaker. in return
for a committee assignment, will have
buried himself pOlltlcally.
One representative. elected by half a
dozen kinds of political organizations,
who is neither republican nor demo-
crat, but a little bit of both. with
large flavoring of socialist. labor vote,
etc. has given it out he can give the
viemocrats ten votessfrom the republic.
an side on organization matters, pro-
vided the House rules are modified so
that a roll call vote can be had in
committee Of the whole. Now that
really practical voting device seems
likely to be installed. the committee of
the whole may have a record vote after
all, but republicans do not fear any
loss of ten men on that account
Looks Like Long-Drawn Battle.
So the two main divisions will prob
ably meet April Is. CLERK South Trimble
will call for nominations for Speaker,
and from present appearances it looks
like long drawn battle before one
side or the other gets the required 21S
votes
Representative Martin. the Louisiana
mystery, is claimed by both sides. The
republicans claim him because he is a
protectioniSt;, and the democrats claim
him because he is from louisiana,
where 1t is understood no one can vote
for anything republican and maintain
any social status.
The late outburst of Representative
Gardner of Massachusetts against Mr..
Mann seems to be giving the republi-
cans no concern. Evidently the leaders
understand that Representative Gardner
has changed his mind. Representative
Lenroot's support for the speakership
seems to have dwindled, and inasmuch
as he himself has not pushed it in any
at the outset, but beyond that it is be-
lieved his friends will vote for Mr..
Mann.
Absenteeism may decide the speaker
ship-that is. enough republicans who
do not like Mr. Mann may remain away
to insure his defeat.
Contest Over Committees.
Where a most interesting political
battle Is to take place will be in the
election of committees The demo-
cratic states will be made up without
difficulty. it is assumed. The republf-
can states VIII not be SO easily framed
Several days before the converting of
the House the republicans will meet in
caucus-or open conference The exist
ing committee of twenty-seyen repub-
licans will have brought matters to a
point where the conference will prob-
ably appoint republican committee
on committees. made up of all kinds of
republicans, old guard. standpat, pro-
gresSiveS eastern and western.
That committee will work out a
series of committee memberships. with
the understanding that every one will
have a voice in the choosing before
final action.
Then the committee matter will be
taken up by the House. Representa-
tive Kitchin will suggest the member
ship of the democrats and Represent
ative Mann will suggest the repub-
lican members. Here is where the re-
publican hearts will stop beating for
a minute, while they wait to see II one
of their dissatisfied members offers
another suggestion or list of sugges-
tions. II more than two series of
names are suggested. then the matter
will have to be balloted on separately
| in the House, and a merry fight will
ensue. Here is where it is possible
for Representative Lenroot's support
| ers to endeavor to make him chair
man of the rules committee or where
| the low tariff republicans will endeayor
to unseat Representative Fordney as
| top republican on the ways and means
| committee. 1t is the point where the
republican organization may be dented.
However the democrats and repub-
| licans may combine to stop such a
| thing The old-timers on both sides
sometimes get together to teach fill
| clustering youngsters their places.
PRESIDENTS COLD CURED.
weakness Sends Him to Red Houz-