The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-02-26
Republicans Count on Ma
jOrity of One in Coming
Session of Congress
LOUISIANA MAN
COUNTED FOR THEM
Mann to Be a Candidate for Speaker
and Lenroot for Floor Leader-Mar-
tin to Be offered Place on Ways and
Means Committee in Return for Vote.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-From now
on Republican organization talk will
Be on the basis of a Republican ma
jority in the house Of the Goth con
gress. When the organization commit
tee holds its second meeting tonight
plans will be worked out in the firm
belief that the vote of Representative
Martin, prot actionist, of Louisiana,
will be east for Republican candi
date for the speakershi7 when the first
session of the next congress is called
Mr.. Martin vote would give the
Republicans 21S votes. the majority Of
one necessary to organize the house.
OF the other uncertainties, Ran
dali Of California, Prohbitionist, and
London, of New York Socialist, are
believed to have definitely aligned
themselveo with the Democrats, fol
towing the collapse of Randall's plan
to organize the uncertainties into
a balance OF power.
Representatives Schall of Minnesota,
Rankin of Montana and Representa-
tive elect Fuller, Massachusetts, will
be aligned with the Republicans, par
! ticularlv if certain concessions are
made to progressive sentiment. These
concessions have been agreed to. On
this basis the vote would be: Repub-
licaas. 2lS; Democrats. 2l1.
The present minority leader, james
Il. Mann, Expects to be the Republican
candidate for the speakership. Repre-
sentative L@nroot, Wisconsin, Will be
the candidate for floor leader. Mr.
Lenroot would be at the head of oil
uader the direction of steering com
mittee, probably elected by the full
Republican membership.
These points will be discussed il
detail and possibly elaborated on a
tomorrow 5 meeting. They rcpres n
in its present state the skeleton o
what viii be presented to the party a
the first conf arelee in the Goth con
gress unless extreme eyentualities il
the international situation develop ney
leaders and new political alignmaats
The question of how. far the Repub
licans should 20 III inducing Mr.. Mar
tin to join his forces with them ha
been the big stumbling block to Re
publican organization II has bee,
generally felt that Martin 5 politics
interests were identical with those 0
, the Republicans, provided the latte
would offer to Mr.. Martin the prope
opportunity to fulfill his mission.
This, it is believed, would involv
giving Mr. Martin . place on til
ways and means committee, the tart
framing body o. the house, and woul
probably assure him Of return
the protective tariff on sugar. Tt
. conviction that the Republicans wi
| organize the house IS believed to /
; based on successful negotiations Wit
Mr.. Martin. Certain Of the o.
guard leaders, prior to the last NEE
. ing of the committee, were dead St
against offering Mr. Martin these i
ducemalts These men have no
: changed their position and, it is b
leved, the assurances have been o
fcred and accepted.
Only in the last few days have Il
; REGULARS seriously considered Il
!, promotion os Lenroot to the flo
: leadership of = majority party. II
alignment of several men with t
pacifist group has materially affect
this development.