Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-03-28
Mann'S Proposition to Have
Bi- partisan ORGANIZATION
Not Favored by Leading
Republicans and Democrats
GENERAL LEGISLATION
NOT TO BE CONSIDERED
Speaker Clark Informs Suffra-
giStS That Nothing Is Like
Iy to Be Done for Them in
Immediate Future,

Washington, March 21.-PreIiml-
nary conferences Of house leaders to>
day developed opposition to RepubIl-
can Leader Mann's proposal that he
withdraw from the speakership race
in favor of Speaker Clark and that
the house committees be ORGANIZED on
bipartisan or bipartisan lines at
the opening of the extra session next
Monday.
Representative Lenroot, of WisconN
sin u progressve-republican leader
declared, after conference with
Representatives Longworth, of ONO,
and Towner, of Iowa, that he would
not consent to such program be-
cause it would constitute an admis-
sion that if the republicans orBanlze
the house, the country will suffer.
Mr.. Lenroot said he did not believe the
plan would lie approved by republi"
cans anywhere.
Speaker Clark, after discussing the
Mann proposal with many democrats
said he had found only one who IA
yored it, The speaker is advising the
democrats to make the Organlzatloh
contest as party unless it is 1ullE
demonstrated that one side or the
other cannot win, The rank and hIe
are supporting the speakers stand en-
Enthusiastically.
Representative Randall, of Califor-
hia, prohibitonist, who has been ac-
.'ye arnorg the little group OF indie
pendents who will have u balance OF
power in the house organization, de-
clncd today to add to his declaration
of last night that four of the five in
dependents will vote for Speaker
Clark and the democratic organization.
He said that despite his conviction
that this was true, he planned to eau
a meeting Of the independents for
THURSDAY.
To Be Fougth Out Quickly.
Among republicans, democrats ana
independents generally, the feeling
appeared to be that the organization
fight should be carried out on party
lines and disposed of as quickly as
possible. The conference between
Representatives Lenroot, LCngworth
and Towner revived discussion of a
plan advanced by Representative
Towner to continue the house organ
ization OF the last congress for a short
stated period until disposition is made
of important international questions
This proposal will be taken up i'll the
conference Saturday.
Mr.. Mann, contrary to. his plans
held no conference with republican
leaders today. 1t developed that
shortly after congress adjourned Mr.
Mann discussed the bipartisan pro-
posal with democratic leaders, al
though at that time he did not com
init himself as willing to withdraw
rom the speakership race.
Although President Wilson has not |
called any congressional leaders into |
about the Legislative pro- |
gram, leaders are proceeding on the
theory that ne will not ask for con-
of general legislation. None |
of the widely discussed general issues, !
it is believed, such as prohibition, suf-
frage and railroad regulation, will be
brought up at the extra session,
That the temperance forces SaVe
no intention of trying to crowd in pro-
hibiton legislation unless it should
le considered emergency business, as
vas the case with prohibition in Rus
'a, earlier in the war, was announced
n statement issued tonight by Dan
ell A. Polling, president of the ma
ional temperance council, which
meets here tomorrow.
Not to EmbarraSs L. S.
"The temperance forces will do
Iothing to embarrass the government
n this crisis" Mr.. Polling said, adding
hat the conference tomorrow would
iscuss chiefly united action in the
congressional campaign of 1918.
Suffragist leaders are urging con- I
ress to take some action on their con ,
amendment resolution at
he extra session, but there appears
, be little hope for it. Miss Rankin,
he representative from Montana, eX
ects to introduce the Susan r. An 7
hony resolution on the opening day n
Mrs. William Kent, of California, p
nd Miss Anne Martin, of Nevada, I
lembers of the Congressional unior., s
iscussed the resolution today with t
peaker Clark, who told them he did n
OF believe general legislation should r
q considered at this session,