The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-03
Champ Clark Wins Speaker
ship Reelection by Vote Of
III to EOS For Mann
FOUR INDEPENDENTS
VOTE WITH DEMOCRATS
While Republican Detection
Reduces G. o. P. Candi-
dates Total-Other Demo.
cratic Officials Reelected

Washington. April 2.--Thc war
congress was organized today by
the Democratic party. aud the
way was cleared tonight for inn
mediate Legislative action to sup
port President Wilson in hostiii-
ties with Germany. The Demo
cratic organization OF the house
was accomplished b, narrow
margin with the aid of four rep
resertati,es elected IS indepcn-
dents. The senate. with safe
Democratic majority had already
been organized In the special SEES
sion OF the houses held March ).
The election OF speaker Champ
Clark end other house Officers.
the adoption OF Democratic house
rules and the election OF the house
committees kept the house busy
from noon until we'll into the even
ing. when arrangements were
completed for a joint session OF
both houses to hear President
Wilson's war address.
Joined In Patriotic Demonstration.
The session was marked by som hTe
business Like earnestne>s, as the rep
resentatives OF the people confronted
a legislative decision that may throw
the United States into the naelstrou
OF war which for three years has con
vnised Europe Democrats ami Re
pubhcans Joined in patriotic deciara
lions even as they fought for partisan
rganizstion Of the house.
The defeat Of Republican L4eadel
James +. Mann IS speaker was &C
complished by the detection OF thre'
Republicans from his standard and tn,
decision Of the Independents 70 Civ,
the house ,ntrol to the adminlstra
ton The vote was Clark. eli: Mann
20a; Representative Lenroot. of WIS
consin ,; Representative Gillett. o
NassaC husetts. :
Clark received the votes or q.
Democrats, Representative SchaII. o
Minnesota, Progressive Representa-
tive London, Of New York. Socialist
Randall of California. Prohihitionisl
and Martin. OF Louisiana, Progressive
Protsctionis;
Republican Detection,
Lenroot received the votes Of Gard
ner, of Massachusetts, Republican. an,
Fuller OF Massachusetts. Progressive
Republican. representative Cillet
received the vot - of Representative
Dallinger Of Massac husetts. and Gray
OF New Jer ey, Republicans Two Re
publicans, representatives Haskell, o
New or n. anu JHhitNs Oh MlIGiEan
voted present Republican,
were absent, representative RleakleY
o! pennsy lvania, resi- gned. Capstick
Of New Jersey, and Hegesen of Motif
Dakota. W he were sick The remain
der OF the Republican side voted 70
Mann.
Two si,h men were brought int
tho cha mber while the roll-csH 10
the speake-ship was in progress. The,
were Gordon Lee. of Georgia. witt
voted with ms part for Speake
Clark, and decker, of Missouri, re
publican. who voted fer Mann Tn
two invalids remained in the chamhe
only long enough to cast their votes
and they were roundly cheered b.
their colleagues
Other Officers Named.
Following the speakership Contes
the vote for other officers was. Clark
of the house, South Trimble, Demo
crat. Ell. William Tyler Page. Repub
l;ean. 21i. sergee nt-at-arms. Rober
Godon. Democrat. zig: Joseph p Rog
ers. Republican. ao2: -oorkeeper. ]
!. Sinnof, Democrat. PIG: Bert "
kennedy. Republican. all Postmaste
fContinued on Second Page