Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-01
GARDNER IN OPEN SPLIT
WITH C. 0.P. CONFERENCE
Bolts Meeting After Failing to Get
Relief From Being Bound
by Caucus Action.
NOMINATE MANN FOR SPEAKER
Impression That Democrats Will Or
ganiZe House Further Strengthen
ed by Announcement That Two
Republicans Will BE Absent.
INV Associated press.1

WASHINGTON. March 3l.-Republi-
can members of the incoming House in
conference to-day nominated Reprcsen-
tative Mann. of Illinois. for Speaker
named a committee OF seventeen to
arrange committee assignments. aud
adopted q resolution to provide for the
appointment of a steering committee to
guide the conduct of Legislation with
out regard to the outcome Of the or
ganization fight.
Plans to suggest bipartisan and tenn
porary organization of the House were
abandoned just before the conference
when it became apparent that most OF
the Republicans wanted partisan
battle.
Both regular and progressive Rcpub-
licanS claimed Victory for their fac
ton. Regulars pointed to the nomna-
tion OF Mr. Mann and failure to take
up the question OF his successor as floor
leader as proof OF their contention.
Progressivcs declared they won in the
appointment of committee on COM
mittces and OF steering committee.
Heretofore Mr.. Mann. as Republican
leader. has made UP committee lists.
and has had much to say in the con-
duet OF business.
None of the five so-callcd "indcpcnd-
ents' attended the conference. Repre-
sentative Elect Fuller. Of Massachu-
sets, Progressive. whom the Rcpubli-
cans hoped would confer with them.
arrived to- lay, and announced that he
first would vote for Representative
I.cnroot. Republican. for Speaker.
GARDNER WILL VOTE
OSLI FOR EENUOOT
There was only ono display of open
insurgency at the conference. Dcclar-
ing he would vote only for Mr. Lcnroot
I for Speaker, Representative Gardner,
of Massachusetts. boltcd the meeting,
after failing to obtain adoption of a
resolution to provide that members
present should not he bound by confer
cn"c action. Representatives Grey, of
New Jersey. md pallingri OF Massa :
chusctts. left with Mr.. Gardner, but
/ Mr.. DallinGcr rot :rncd later, srd Re-
publIcans were hopeful Tonight that
they would be able to induce him to
vote for Mr.. Mann.
I Immediately after Mr.. Gardncr's
withdrawal. Representative" I.ongworth
Of ohio. offered "a resolution To bind
I the members to vote for the conference
nominees and asked that II be voted
/ down. This was done by large vote
/ leaving tho 195 members who voted for
i Mr.. Mann free to support whom they
please on Monday when balloting on
/ House organization begins
The prevailing impression tha. :he
I Democrats will organize the House
! with Champ Clark as Speaker, game,
further support to-day with the an,
+. nounccmcnt that Representative Helge.
sen. Of North Dakota, "a Republican n
would be unable to be present or
! Monday. There is at least one othe,
\, Republican whose attendance is doubt
ful. and the Democrats declared to
night there was not the slightest doub
that Speaker Clark would have th.
necessary votes to elect. In that event
Representative Mann is expected to bt
ntnued as Republican floor leader.
GNLY FOUR on COMMITTEE
PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICAN.
or the seventeen members OF tn,
committee on committees named to
day. only four. Nelson. Of Wisconsin
Anderson. OF Minnesota; Reavis. OF Ne
braska, and Wood, OF Indiana. are con
sidered progressive Republicans b,
that faction.
The meeting to-day lasted abou
three hours. and Mr.. Gardner consumed
more than third OF that time Afte,
l.c departed. Representative Madden, o
Illinois. placed Mr.. Mann in nomina
tion. and upon his heins declared unani
mously nominated, Representative Len
CONTINUED on Thirteenth Page)