Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-15
THE FIVE INDEPENDENTS
Their Power in the Next Con-
greSS.
Fuller, London, Martin, Schhll and Ran
dali II . Position 70 Exact Conees-
sions frsa Either side Of the
Evenly Divided House.

national House OF Representatives and
the fate Of the many proposed changes
In the conduct of its business, says the
regular washington correspondent Of
the Boston Transcript They arc Con-
gressman .elect Avian +. Fuller Of Mas
w. r. Martin of Louisiana, Thomas ID.
SchoM Of Minnesota ana Charles II.
Randall Of California.
Neither OF the two dominant parties
will have enough votes to elect the next |
speaket. The number required Is 21s. |
1t appears that the republicans Gun |
have no more than 2IS members. IL all |
OF the pending contests are settled in |
their favor. The democrats cannot hope
to have moro than that number n they |!
win all Of the contests nnd secure the
vote Of Congressman Kelly Of Penn
sylvania. . progressive democrat, as
we'll Consequently. one party or the
other must receive the votes OF at least
two Of the indepe ndehts and to feel at
ali easy must have three. This Is based
on The theory that each candidate will
receive tho entire vote Of his respective
party. something very likely not to
happen. But 20 guess on possible de-
Elections IL hazardous at this time. ex-
cept in the instance Of Congressman
Gardner of Massachusetts,, who has de-
clared emphatically that he would not
vote for Mr.. Mann. the republican can
didate for speaker.
"The POWERFUL FIVE"
1.-THE Powerful Five" then, will be
the Independents in the next House.
Two are progressives. one Is a socialist,
q fourth is a prohibitionist and the
NTH at the present time Is an indepen-
dent with "a capital IT." The republi-
cans are counting on getting two OF
these votes, and the democrats are just
as positive, at least in public state
ments. that they will get two more. But
II 10 uncertain which side win receive
the odd vote when the contest Is under
way, a contest that promises to be a
| most lively affair and that may take its
place with the memorable fights prior
| to the black days of the Civil War.
FULLER AND sCTIAI1L MAY VOTE
| TOGETHER.
Statements to the contrary notwith-
standing, the republicans expect to win
the votes Of Mr.. Schall Of Minnesota
and Mr.. Fuller, who. as an independent.
| defeated Congressman Roberts In the
pork barrei'' fight that shook the 9Th
Massachusetts congressional district
last fall Mr.. Schall IL the blind mem
Der Of the House who recently attracted
public attention by travelling from
washington to his home In the West
and back again. guided only by his
seven year -old boy. who could neither
read nor write.
During the national campaign he
stumped various parts Of the country
for Charles e. Hughes and the republi.
can ticket. but when he returned to his
home district he found to his conster
nation that the regular republican or
ganixation was running a man agains
him. With limited support and more
limited capital. he entered the fight ant
won. Since the election he has beer
In frequent consultation with Colone
Roosevelt. whose shadow may cloud tn
proceedings when SchAlrs name i
called on the speakership vote. Blu
despite this and the trick Of the resu
lars back in Minnesota, the republican
believe that he will cast his ballot 70
their nominee.
WHY MANN MAY BE FAVORED.
Readers of the Transcript are prett
well acquainted with the political &C
tivities OF Mr.. Fuller. who lives 4
Maiden and is the head Of one of tn
largest automobile concerns in Boston
, They know the part he played in tn
progressive movement when II was a
|; its height few years ago. They know
: too. Of his election to the Massachusett
House a. a progressive republican. an
. how ne was mentioned at one time a
y that party's possible nominee for gov
ernor. From all reports received herr
the conclusion is drawn that he wouf
much prefer to vote for Irvine L Len
root Of Wisconsin for speaker than 70
, Mr.. Mann. Nevertheless. II Is general
believed that he will vote for Mann
y as will other progressive republican,
: possibly including Mediil Mccormick G
: Chicaep. to get the present minorit
Z leader tout Of the way" and to max
Mr.. Lsnroot the floor leader.
O TWO SURE CLARK MEN.
t Randall the prohibitionist. and IIor
;. don, the lone socialist In the next Hous
r. are counted as s,,re-flre CLARK voters
= the democrats Mr.. London found III
. shedding exceptionally hard in II
o House last year until the democrat
i took him under their wing and helpe
d him out on various occasions Befol
= the session was over he demonstrate
% his appreciation by yielding the hot
> to a democrat when that master pa
d Humanitarian. Mr.. Mann. apparently tic
70 OF the democratic side.
~ MARTIN A PROBLEM.
II The enigma II Martin Of Louisian
70 From the geographic viewpoint only
'e would appear as II the advantage ";
sr with the democrats. At one time
was an honored member OF their part
? but recently he was elected a. q pr
~ neutrality-suspicious. He wants Lo'
N is.sna sugar protected, and he is OPP
"a to offers for shielding his ward r
II publicans argue that their record shov
10 without contradiction where they stan
er The willy democrats reply that rece
Developments in the country's deplet'
10 finances have drawn them around to
lie viewpoint of the tarin-with Relate
No to sugar-which may not prove al
q tasteful to one Mr.. Martin. Indee
" they may show a decided sweet too
80 for Louisiana sugar before these per-
Gus days. so far IS their leadership
concerned. are over.
ONE MANS THEORETICAL PoWE
Is It to be wondered. then. that I
40 leaders OF both sides are DESTROYS
=. being on the most friendly terms WI
~ "the Powerful Five" Would II
=. strange IL these ave men. SO hopeless
-. In the minority in one sense and 80 II
mendously powerful in another. we
70 offered their choice Of committee q
\" pointments and promises Of support
their pct measures: SO Ions as I
90 lines Of the dominant parties hold hr
~ these ave men will hold the balance
rn'e power. II Mr.. Randall should so choo
-. he could demand support for . nation
IN prohibition amendment. and from o
nc side or the other might get II. with I