Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-01
c. 0. P. FOR MANN;
GARDNER A BOLTER
Bay State Man and Two Other
Representatives Quit Caucus
on House Speakership.
PARTY VOTE NOT BINDING

n3tet 1Or speaker DS tlle IepupticdhS VI
the incoming House in caucus yesterday
afternoon.
Representative Gardner of Massachu-
setts bolted the caucus, taking with him
Representatives Gray OF New Jersey and
Dallnger of Massachusetts,. after an
rouhcing that he would vote only FOR
Repre- sentative Lenroot of Wisconsin FOR
Speaker and after he had failed to obtain
adoption of a resolution to provide that
members present should not be bound by
caucus action. Mr.. Dalinger returned to
the caucus meeting later, and republicans
were hopeful last night that he would
yet vote for Mr. Mann.
The republican caucus also named a
committee of seventeen to arrange COM
mittee assignments. and adopted reso-
luton to provide for the appointment OF a
of legislation without regard to the out
come of the organization light IN the
House
Desire of Majority.
1t became apparent just before the eau
Gus that the majority of the republicans
desired a partisan battle over the or
ganization of the House. Plans to suggest
bipartisan and temporary organizations
Of the House, therefore. were abandoned.
Roth regular and progressive repub-
licanS claimed a victory for their fac
ton. Regulars pointed to the nominal
tion of Mr. Mann and failure to take up
the question of his successor as floor
leader as proof of their contention.
Progressives declared they won in the
appointment of a committee ,on COM
mittees and of steering committee.
Heretofore Mr.. Mann as republican
leader has made up committee lists and
has had a big say in the conduct of
business
Independents Absent.
None of the five so-called independ-
ents attended the conference. Repre-
sentative-elect Fuller of Massachusetts,
progressive. whom the republicans
hoped would confer with them, arrived
yesterday and announced that he first
would vote for Representative Lenroot.
republican, for Speaker.
There was only one display of open
insurgency at the conference. that OF
Representative Gardner. Immediately
after Mr.. Gardeners withdrawal, Rep
resentative Longworth Of Ohio offered
g resolution to bind the members to
vote for the conference nominees. and
asked that it be voted down. This was
done by a. large vote, leaving the l95
w
to support whom they please tomor-
row when balloting on the House Or
ganiZation begins.
Democrats More Confident.
The prevailing impression that the
democrats will organize the House
with Champ CLARK as Speaker gained
further support yesterday, with the an
t,at a al
gesen of orth Dakota, a republican.
would be unable to be present tomor-
row. There is at least one other re-
publican whose attendance is doubtful
and the democrats declared last night
there was not the slightest doubt that
Speaker Clark would have the neces-
sary votes to elect. In that event Rep
resen,ative Mann is expected to be con-
tinued as republican floor leader.
Only Four Progressives.
Of the seventeen members of the
committee on committees named. only
four-Nelson of Wisconsin, Anderson of
Minnesota, Reavis of Nebraska and
Wood of Indiana-are considered pro-
eressive republicans by that faction.
The original list submitted to the com-
mittee of twenty seven by the progress
siye element contained the names of
two other progressively inclined mem
bers-Hayes of California and Kelley Of
Michigan. Besides Nelson, Anderson,
Reavis and Wood, the members of the
committee are Representative Mann,
Illinois, chairman; Gillett, MassachU-
setts; Mondell, Wyoming; Fordney,
Michigan; Kahn, California; Moore,
in 4 ~ n
child, New York; Austin, Tennessee;
Browning, New Jersey; Green, Iowa; SIN
mott, Oregon, and elect
White, Maine. Power 10 name the steering
committee was vested in the committee
on committees. 1t viii be named with
in a. day or two, and it is understood
Mr.. Lenroot will be member Of 1t.
Escorted by Lenroot.
The meeting yesterday lasted about
three hours, and Mr.. Gardner consum ed
more than third Of that time After
he departed Representative Madden Of
Illinois placed Mr.. Mann In nomination,
and upon his being declared unanimous
ly nominated, Representative Lenroot
of Wisconsin, Representatives. Ma
son of Illinois and Representative Gill
lett of Massachusetts escorted him to
the front of the hall. IN a brief address
Mr. Mann pleaded for united action by
the party and spoke of the need of pa
triotic service III the present interna-
tIOual Crisis.
Whip and Assistants.
Representative Hamilton of New York
was named whip and representatives
Farr of Pennsylvania. Nichols of
Michigan and Macarthur of Oregon, as
sistant whips.
While republicans thrashed out their
problems democrats continued their
night over committee places. The ten
hoid-cver members of the ways and
means committee sat throughout the
day making. designations. Their meet
ings were executive, and great care WAS
taken to prevent news of the assign
tncnts becoming public.
KNOXVILLE WOMAN ENLISTS.
First Of South to Enter Service of
United States Navy.
KNOXVILLE. Tenn, March 31.-Mrs.
Richard Todd of Knoxville wife of
the recruiting officer here. has the
distinction of being the first southern
woman 10 be enlisted for service in the
United States Navy. She began her
duties today as chief yoeman on the