The Washington times., 1917-04-01
CONGRESS TO KEEP
DEMOCRATIC REGIME
"War Session" to Be Controlled
BY Administration When 1t
ConVeneS Tomorrow.

fifth Congress will convene at noon
tomorrow and all signs today forecast
Democratic control of both branches.
The indications are the Democrats
Will organize the House within three
hours. Discord in the Republican
caucus late yesterday afternoon and
the illness of two Republican mem
bers augur for Democratic success in
the organization. Speaker Clark's
friends confidently claim he will have
majority Of five, II not eight, on
the first ballot.
1t is probable that by midafternoon
the House will have organized and both
bodies will be ready to receive the
war message of the President. 1t is
not expected the President will come
to the Capitol before Tuesday.
Congress Ready to Act.
The sentiment of Congress is in har-
mony with that of the country. Prac-
tically anything asked by the Presi-
dent, even an outright declaration Of
war, will be granted by the legisla-
tive branch of the Government. A ma
3ority of Congressman want to adopt
a resolution that "a state Of war ex-
lists" rather than make an outright
declaration Of war, but the desires of
the Administration will control action.
1t is generally realized the Presi-
dent is in possession of more informa-
tion about international affairs than
Congress can have.
Interest in the organization fight
in the House waned today because of
the evident hopefulness of the Re-
publican situation. Two Republicans
Gardner of Massachusetts, and Gray
Of New Jersey-bolted the party eau
Gus. or conference, at 4 o'clock yes
terday afternoon. Opposition to Mann
as the candidate for Speaker and the
failure of the Gardner resolution, de-
claring that the conference action
should not be binding, caused the
bolt
Congressman DaIlinger of Massa-
chusetts also walked out, but returned
later. 1t was understood among Dal-
lingOPs colleagues that he opposed
Mann.
LOngworfh Declares Purpose.
Party peacemakers tried in vain to
persuade Gardner to stick by the
party guns. They argued that the
Republican gathering was not a eau
Gus, but a conference, and was not
binding. Gardner, however, wanted
a resolution expressly stating that
members were not bound by the con-
ference action, and when this resolu-
ton was tabled he stalked out. He
is expected to vote for Lenroot for
Speaker.
Afterward, Mr.. Longworth, a regu-
lar Republican, offered a resolution
that the conference action should be
binding. At Longworth's own request
this resolution was voted down. 1t
was offered merely to offset the Gard
ner resolution, so the conference de-
clined to vote either that its action
was binding or not binding.
After the bolt by Gardner and Gray
the caucus unanimously nominated
Mann as the Republican candidate
for Speaker. A few Republicans did
not vote, but there were no negative
votes. Nominees for House Offices
the clerk, sergeant-at-arms, door
keeper and postmaster-were next
named.
Page For CIerkshIp.
Tyler Page, long a minority attache
Of the House, was nominated for the
clerkship. Bert w. Kennedy, for
more than twenty-five years an as
sisstant doorkeeper and general
utility employe, got the nomination
for the doorkeeper. Joseph Rogers,
also an employe of the Republican
minority, was nominated for ser
geant-at-arms, and Laurence Lyons,
Of Indiana, was nominated for post
master.
Congressman Hamilton of New
York was reappointed Republican
whip. His assistants will be Con-
gressmen Farr Of Pennsylvania,
Nichols OF Michigan, and Macarthur
of Oregon.
The Progressive wing of the party
received its quota in the adoption of
a resolution for the appointment of
a Committee on committees" Such
action takes from the Republican
Speaker, or minority leader, as the
case may be, the power to-make COM
mittee assignments.
ProEresSfves Are Satisfied.
Necessarily, the committee on COM
mittees" includes more regulars than
Progressives, but recognition of the
principles of abatement of one-man
domination satisfied the Progressives,
and no candidate for Speaker was put
up against Mr.. Mann. The commit
tee on committees" will name an ad-
visory or steering committee OF FIVE
members.
Should the Republicans control the
House. Congressman Lenroot, Wis
consin Progressive, is slated for the
floor leadership.
None OF the Independent group of
five" attended the Republican con-
ference, nor did any one of them at
tend the preceding Democratic
caucus.
With Gardner, Gray, and DalIinger
on the reservation, the maximum
number Of regular Republican votes
that Mr.. Mann can muster will be
20e. Congressman Helgesen of North
Dakota and Capstick OF New Jersey
are i'll, and this circumstance reduced
the Republican strength to 212 be-
fore the insurgent bolt in caucus.
Congressman Schall of Minnesota,
Progressive, is expected to vote with
the Republicans, who possibly will