The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-14
FATE PLAYS HAND IN ORGANIZATION
 OF LOWER HOUSE Death Claims Members From Both Ranks, But so Far Tie Is Unbr0ken THIRD CONGRESSMAN IS DESPERATELY ILL Republicans May Lose Another Vote, Giving Democrats One Plurality.
 Independents Will Still Have
 Power to Elect
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

Washington. March I3.-(speciaID
 The opinion prevails that the organi-
 zation of the House in the extraordi- nary session beginning April 18, and the regular session beginning Decem- Der 4, will be effected not by those
 who answer "present' when the roll is
 called, but by those who may have
 passed away and created vacancies and
 those who may be absent as result
 of sickness.
 Since the adjournment of the last ses- sion, March 4, two members have died, Mir. Conry of New York, democrat, and MT. Subway of New Hampshire. repub- lican. MT. Cox of Vermont. republican, IS reported to be desperately ill. It is regarded, therefore, as reasonable that late will play an important if not the
 most important roll in the organizat tion VANCANCIES WILL BE FILLED The present count shows the democartic and republican strength equal. There are live independents and two vacancies If
 the vacancies are filled, and it is believed that they will be-in all probab bility the democratic and republican strength will still be equal. For MT. Conry represented Ia Tammany district, the democratic vote of which is practically two-thirds the total vote, and MT. Subway, since 1S59 With the exception of a single term, man. aged without material trouble to hold his place in Congress.
 If the vancancies are filled and the two big parties present their full strength April 16 the organization of the House will depend on the falling of the five in- Idependol., votes. Tie democrats it is ev- ident, will receive the socialist and the prohibition vote, while two of the three progressives are practically certain to give their support to the republicans.
 The third progressive is claimed by the republicans. He is MT. Martin of Louisi- ana. Inasmuch as he is a southern man, representing district normally demo- cratic, and inasmuch as once upon a time he was a democrat, the democratic ele- ment has hope that he will not support the republican cause.
 THE POSSIBLE COMPROMISE
 Regarding the organization. as far as the extra session is concerned, there are three theories The first is that the party, which after finished fight, dis Ilays the greater strength, will organize. The second is that a temporary or im- provised organization will be effected. The third is that a nonpartisan organi- zation will be the result The third the ory. by conservatives of both parties, is discounted. It is too much in accord with peace without victory" senti- ment. The second theory, however, will Probably be proved correct if it should happen that the fight for control is un-
 necessarily prolonged by independents supporting an independent candidate
 It is the concensus of opinion that pend ing legislation is too important to be in- definitely delayed Other reasons militat- ing against a finished fight if much time is necessary in concluding such a fight are, fist, practically every member would adjourn Congress by July l. and. sec- crdly, the necessity of effecting a new organization under identical conditions in December