The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-30
CHANGES ARE THAT DEMOCRATS WILL
 ORGANIZE HOUSE Prospects of Success Grow Brighter as Day of Con-
 test Approaches
RANDALL'S POSITION
 ENDS UNCERTAINTY
Now Seems Sure Sufficient Number of Independents Will Line Up Behind Clark to Assure His
 Election as Speaker
Fly HUGH w. ROBERTS

It begins to appear that Champ Clark knew whereof he spoke when some days ago he declared that it would require no longer than one hour and forty minutes for the democrats to re elect him sepaker of the House
 At present, it is regarded as certain that democrats will not only place Mir. Clark again in the chair of the speaker, but will also organize the House by the appointment of all com mittees. MT. Mann of Illinois, repub- lican leader. has declared that he will not be candidate. It is regarded as possible, though not probable, that the republicans will rally aroundfMr. Len root of Wisconsin
 MT. Mann, subtle political genius, re- tired from the race because he thought there should be no display of partisan on the eve of a war involving this na- ton. Democrats believe that he fore saw his defeat. At any rate, they re- jected his suggestion that the honors entitled in organizing. be evenly di- vided
 RANDALL'S STATEMENT
 That independents will guarantee democrat control is testimony offered by MT. Randall of California. Mir. Randall Is a probibitiorist aud as such is not. of course. allied with either important party. He has announced for Clark and for democratic organi- zation. He has stated. also, that he has received by wire pledges from a sufficient number of the other inde- pendents to make continued demo- cratic control certainty. There will be in the House April ?, 2i4 democrats and 214 republicans. If the Randall prediction is verified, of the five independents.t Mir. Clark will receive the support of four For the election of speaker. 21s votes are re- quired.
 Mir Randall gives for his interest in democratic success his conviction that in times of grave interna tional emer- gency, the administration should be supported by House and Senate or ganized in sympathy with the admins : tIdtlOi OIi lHC OtHSs hand, relate story of details slightly different.
 PROHIBITION FIGURES
 During last session. there were sev eral vigorous scraps among the pro- hibitionists and i-prohibitionists of the House. When the former enacted the District of Columbia prohibition bill. it was widely reported that Pres ident Wilson would reflect it by means of a veto.
 And then the report was circulated that MT. Randall. leading the prohi- bition forces. unofficia1lv permitted it to be known that if the President did veto the District of Columbia "dry' bill, the prohibitionists would juml the reactionaries in organizing the House
 The bill was not vetoed. Mir Ran dall has not only declared for dem. ocratic organization, but announces that he has heartily worked in the in terest of the democratic cause Tn ere is probably no truth in the story thai
 
 that the President was moved through the Randall threat The story, how ever. is an interesting one of republic an organization.
 G. o. P. STAMPEDED
 With the retirement of Mir. Mann and the revelatory information of Mr. Ran dall, the republican party in the House is openly distressed. Alona with democrats, they have rebuked Mir Mann by declining to consider his bi- partisan plan of organization. They have expressed a determination to go down, if down they must go. with their colors flying.
 It is probable, therefore, that the re- publicans, facing defeat. will tenta- lively oppose democrats in their plans for organization. They will meet in conference Saturday