Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-02-23
CONGRESS ABOUT
EVENLY DIVIDED
NEITHER PARTY HAS ENOUGH
VOTES TO ASSURE ELECTION
OF NEXT SPEAKER.
Especial Correspondence.

Washington, D. c., Feb. %. Once
more the republican members OF the
house have counted their chickens in
the matter Of the control of that body
for the coming two years. They think
they will be able to hold their 215 votes
and also to get the support of Fuller OF
sachusetts and Schall of Minnesota
while the democrats are not yet assur-
ed of the help of Randall Of California
and Martin Of Louisiana Nobody
knows which way London Of New York
the lone socialist will vote. He Will
probably vote present
Should James R. Mann Of Chicago
be the republican nominee for speaker,
as is now assumed, there is some
doubt as to his ability to secure the
support Of all of those 215 republicans,
For instance, Miss Rankin OF Montana
is very much in earnest about progress
sive legislation. She may demand that
suffrage and the women's national
eight hour bill be made part of the
republican caucus program, as the
price Of her support. Then Fuller Is
determined to see the house rules
changed, while Schall, a progressive is
known to be ambitious to pull some.
thing out Of the situation for his party.
The democrats are no better of.
There is George Lunn Of New York,
a former socialist mayor of Schenec.
tady, ready to bolt II the rules are not
changed and certain labor measures
made part of the democratic program.
There are Martin and Randall and Lon.
don to be Modified. All Of these votes
must be polled If they are to return
Champ Clark to the chair. Tammany
must be held in line with patronage,
the first step in that direction having
been the appointment of Patten as
postmaster of New York City At this
date there is a good possibility OF tie,
with London refusing to support either
side.
In view Of this situation there is talk
in republican circles OF making Len
root of Wisconsin the nominee in place
Of Mann. Formerly he was slated for
floor leader and chairman Of the rules
committee. Lenroot for speaker would
get the support Of Miss Rankin Of Full
Ter and probably of Schall and Randall.
That Is, unless the democrats should
offer better inducements to the inde-
pendent group than they have thus far.
Lenroot has a more progressive record
than Mann; he is not strongly opposed
to rules reform, and he Is in favor with
many Of the Independent democrats.
The Porto Rico civil government bill
has finally passed the senate, and Will
presumably be reported from confer
ence, adopted and sent to the president
within the next ten days. The senate
has stricken out the clauses In the
house bill which placed property re-
striction upon Office holding and a
property or literacy qualification upon
voting. 1t has also prescribed that the
Porto Rico legislature shall never
place any property qualifications upon
the right to vote.
The prohibition clause placed in the
bill in the senate will perhaps be
stricken out in conference. 1t places
the island on "dry" basis, but permits
the people to vote to abolish prohibi.
ton at any time within five years.
Don McGiffen, who has been secre.
tary to Congressman Ramseyer for the
past two years, goes back to Iowa after
March 4, to join his brother, William
McGiffen in running the Fairfield
Weekly Ledger. They have purchased
the paper from the estate Of an uncle,
C. M. Junkin. Their grandfather estab.
lished it in 1858.