South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-01
Group of Seventeen Is Ap-
pointed to Arrange Com
mittee Assignments for
Special Session.
BIPARTISAN IDEA IS GIVEN
UP BY REPUBLICAN FORCES
Rep. Gardner of MaSSaChu-
sets Declares He Will Vote
Only for Rep. Lenroot
and Leaves Meeting.
Associated Press Service

Associated Press Service
WASHINGTON. March 31.-Re-
publican members of the incoming
house, in conference today. nominal
ed Rep James r. Mann OF Illinois
for speaker, named a committee OF
z 20 arrange committee assign
ments and adopted a resolution TO
provide for the appointment of a
steering committee 10 guide the con
Cuct of legislation without regard to
the outcome OF the organization
night.
Plans. TO suggest bipartisan and
temporary organization of the house
were abandoned just before the con-
ference. when IL became apparent
that most of the republicans want
ed a partisan battle
Both regular and progressive re-
publicans claimed a victory for their
faction. Regulars pointed to the
nomination of Mr.. Mann and failure
TO take up the question OF his sue
cessoT as floor leader as proof of
their contention. Progressives de-
Clared they won In the appointment
of a committee on committees and
OF "a steering committee. Heretofore,
Mr.. Mann as republican leader has
made mp committee lists and has had
q big say in the conduct Of business.
Independents Absent.
None Of the five so-caIled indie
pendents attended the conference.
Representatives. elect Fuller Of Mass
achusetts. progressive. whom the
republicans hoped would confer with
them. arrived today and announced
hat he first would vote for Rep. Len
root a republican. for speaker.
There was only one display Of
open insurgency at the conference
Declaring ne would vote only for
Mr. Lenroot for speaker, Rep. Gard
ner Of Massachusetts, bolted the
meeting after failing 20 obtain adop-
ton OF a resolution 10 provide that
mem hers present should not be
bound by conference action Rep.
Grey Of New Jersey and Dallinger
eff Massachusetts. left with Mr.
Gardner. but Mr.. Dallinger returned
later and republicans hoped late to-
night that they would be able 10
induce him 10 vote for Mr.. Mann.
Immediately after Mr. Gardeners
withdrawal Rep. I.ongw.rth Of
Ohio. offered a resolution 10 bind
the members 10 vote for the confer
ence nominees and asked that 10 be
voted down. This was done by
large vote. leaving the 1875 members
who voted for Mr.. 2sann free TO sup
port whom they please on Monday
linen balloting on house organiza-
tiOu begins
Will Elect Clark
The prevailing impression that the
democrats viii organize the house
with Champ Clark - speaker gain
ed further support today with the
announcement that Rep Helgeson
of North Dakota. a republican. Will
he unable 10 present Monday. There
- az least one other republican
whose attendance is doubtful. and
the democrats declared tonight
there was not the slightest doubt
that Speaker CLARK would have the
necessary votes 20 elect I'm that
event. Rep. Mann is expected To- he
continued as republican floor lead
ar
OF the Il members of the commit
Zee named today only four Nelson
az Wisconsin. Anderson OF Mime
apoHs. Reavis Of Nebraska. and
Wood OF Indiana, are considered
progressive republicans by that
faction The original list submitted
u the committee Of - by the pro-
gressive element contained the
names or two other progressively
inclined members. Hayes Of Califor-
MA and Kelley OF Michigan. Besides
Nelson. Anderson. Reavis and Wood
the members OF the committee are
Rep. Mann. Illinois. chairman;
Giuett. Massachusetts; Mondell,
wyoming; Fordney Michigan;
Kahn. California. Moore. Pennsyl-
vania. Longworth. Ohio; Fairchild.
New York: Austin. Tennessee;
Browning. New Jersey; Green. Iowa;
Finnott. Oregon. and Rep.-elect
White. Maine Power 20 name ~
steering committee was vested in
the committee on committees. 10 wiz
lie named within a day or two and
r. is understood Mr.. Lenroot viii be
a member OF IT,