The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-02
CLARK As SPEAKER
APPEARS ASSURED
on SESSION EVE
Illness and Bolting Among
Republicans Casts Gloom
Over Camp.
DEMOCRATS TO GIVE
INDEPENDENTS PLACE
Democrats Will Probably
Have 213 Votes to Foes
208 First Ballot.

Washington, April Re election of
Champ Clark. as speaker of the house
tomorrow when the extraordinary ses :
sion begins, seemed assured tonight
and the prospect of q compete Demo-
cratic organization was admitted to
be strong even by the Republicans.
Illness and boiling among Republic
ans and proposed organization by
Democrats favorable to independents
are expected to prove vital factors in
the fight.
-Four Republicans - Representatives
Helgesen Of North Dakota. Capstick of
New Jersey, Cooper OF West Virginia
and Meeker of Missouri are i'll and
probably will notb present.
6oItinu Republicans.
Two Republicans. Representatives
Gardner of Massachusetts and Gray of
New Jersey have said they will not
vote for Representative Mann, tho Re-
publican nominee. for speaker on the
first ballot. Democrats hope they will
support Clark Representative Dallin-
ger of Massachusetts also may not
vote for Mr.. Mann.
Hence at the best it is estimated
that the Republicans cannot poll more
than EOS of their 214 votes for Mann
on the first roll call. Democrats in
sist that they will have at least 2la
| If not PA of their own members pres
ent to vote for Clark and they are
counting on enough Independents to
give the e1s necessary for election.
Hold Out to Independents.
There were persistent rumors today
that the Democrats were planning
choice committee assignments for in
dependents, who Joined them in the
organization fight IT was said, too.
that New York Democrats who at
times have shown a tendency to bolt
and who, 1t was feared might stand
with Representative Gallivan of Mass
achusetts in opposition to the organ
ization program, will also be well
taken care Of.
Old chairmen who returned to con-
gress are to be retained at the heads
of committees il the Democrats con-
troll and except in rare instances.
other advancements will be made un-
der the seniority rule.
Democrats will lose at least two
| members on every large committee
except ways and means and rules in
the incoming congress, the member
ship of the majority being reduced two
by the increased Republican house
membership. The majority member
agreement will remain unchanged In
| number.
Representative Galivan declined to-
night to add anything to his former
statements about his opposition to the
organization plane. He merely said
he would vote against the major por-
tion of the chairmanships going to
southern members, and he thought
from messages he had received that
several other Democrats would vote as
he did.
Independents Separate.
| To all appearances the so called in
dependent organization has dissolved
Representative Randall of California
who has been actively engaged ir
seeking to keep life In it, said tonigh,
he had seen no one today except Rep,
resentative Fuller, Independent o.
Massachusetts, who already has sait
he would cast his first vote for Rep,
rcsentative Lenroot OF wisconsin fo
speaker. Representatives Martin
London and Schall. the other indc
pendents. made no comment on tn,
situation.
Crowded galleries will greet tn,
house tomorrow. Every availabl,
ticket to the gallery has been snapped
up.
Immediately after the house Il
called to order 1t will proceed will
the election and swearing in of tn,
speaker, swearing In OF members b!
| the speaker, the election of minor OF
ficers of the house. the appointmen
Of a committee To notify the presiden
| that the house is ready for business
adoption Of the rules for the session
and the selection Of committees In tn,
order named
The house elects it's own committees
the first named on the committee list,
being chairmen. Both sides submit
lists prepared in advance.
Having selected committees tn
house usually adjourns until sucl
time as the president has indicated h
will address congress. He may ad
dress it at any time after the spealSe
Is elected and members sworn in,