Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-13
LINES NOT DRAWN
FOR FIGHT in HOUSE
Signs That Plans Will Not Take
Shape Until Few Days Be-
fore Congress Meets.
MANN OPPOSES ANY TRADING
Fluctuating Standings of Parties
Put Democrats Ahead of
Republicans by One.
.By 4 associated prcss-l


WASHINGTON. March I2.-pcsni,e
many conferences among leaders and
animated discussion of MANY pronos.,s
for working out Democratic. R.nuhli-
can or bipartisan control OF the in
coming House OF Representatives. there
are few signs that the plans OF either
OF the big parties OF the little group
OF independents will take definite form
until within IL few days Of the meet
ing of the special session on April 1s.
Most of the members have laf, tho
capital with the impression that the
lines for the organization nsht can
not be drawn month in advance be-
cause OF the shifting OF strength due to
deaths and uncertainties surrounding
plahs Tor special elections to fiji the
vacancies. Republican Leader Mann.
who will be his party's candidate for
Speaker departed tonight after an
nouncing that he would not favor anv
trading for Republican control and
predicting that bipartisanship was not
improbable.
The tuctuatins standings of the par
ties presented tonight the prospec,
that the Democrats will have ol5 votes
and the Republicans o1i. when the
quire 2lS to elect Speaker. The five
so-called independents holding the
balance of power have been unable.
so far TO agree on a concerted course.
but they will meet again just before
the beginning of the session.
CONCEDED DEMOCRATS WILL.
NAME CoNRl's SUCCESSOR
In order 10 keep their strength TO
Els. the Democrats will have to elect
Democrat in the Fifteenth New York
District, where special election is 10
be held on April II to choose a sue
cessor TO the late Representative
Conry. 1t generally is conceded how
ever that they will have no difficulty
Hopes of Republicans that a Eepubli-
can might be elected in New Hamp-
shire to succeed the late Representa-
tive Sulloway bringing the Republican
total up to el5, disappeared to-day
when il was discovered the State stat-
utes would not permit an election be-
fore April &c.
When he left tonight. the Repubi-
can leader said he was going to take
a good rest but would be back in
ample time for tho extra session.
The House organization" said Mr.
Mann. ''is not a matter OF trading. 1t
should net be II case OF figuring on
some partisan advantage. do not
propose TO have IL said. If can pre-
vent it, that tho Republicans have
adopted anything in the nature of
sharp practice in order TO elect
Speaker.
BIPARTISAN ORGANIZATION
NOT IMPROBABLE
1T is not imp. obablc that there will
be a bipartisan organization of the
House, bu: do not think IL is pos.
sible to determine whether there will
be one until there shall have been a
test Of strength and both sides shall
have had i vote on the subject OF or
ganization. In view OF the intcrna-
tional complica and the fact that
neither party viii have a majority in
the House. there necessarily will have
to be some bipartisan understanding in
the House after organization in effect
ed. il not before II is effected.
Mr.. Mann added that il was pos
that Congress might end it's extra ses-
sion in two weeks Speaker Clark
said tonight. however, that he thought
the chances favored a session of about
six weeks. AMI was convinced that the
stay of Congrt IS would be either short
or very long.
we will. he tn session either six
weeks or till Aug Ist come a year" the
Speaker said.