The Butler weekly times., 1917-01-25
CONTROL OF NEXT CON
GRESS RESTS WITH FIVE
MEN
Republicans and Democrats Each
Will Have 216 Members in
House. Odds Favor
Clark.


ganization o fthc SiXty-fifth con
gress is yet in the air-balanced
between the demands and repre-
scntations-brtwecn Champ Clark
and Jim Mann.
The matter is not one whit more
settled than it was 10 days after
the national election.
The list of Jerry South clerk of
the house of representatives,
shows there are in the sixty-fifth
congress 2l5 Democrats and 215
RepublicanS---an even break. The
balance of power for the organi
zation Of the next congress is held
in the hands of really just five
men. They are: Charles II. Ran
dali, Los Angeles, Prohibitionist
Meyer London, New York, Social
list: A. &. Fuller, Maiden, Mass,
Independent Thomas d. Schall of
Minneapolis, Mimi, Progressive,
and Whitrmcll p. Martin, Thibo-
dauX, La. elected as Il Progress
Sivc.
The Democratic caucus nominee
for speaker will be undoubtedly
and unanimously Champ Clark of
Missouri, the present speaker.
The Republican caucus nominee
will be James r. Mann Of Illinois,
the present minority leader. Mr..
Mann has sporadic opposition, but
the overwhelming majority of his
party will present. him as it's
choice 1t is possible that small
body of disSentrrS in the Republl
can ranks may present Lenroot as
their choice. and the. New Jersey
Republican caucus has presented
Hampton Moore, of Pennsylvania
a Sthcir choice for speaker.
But the line up for the real
contest will lie between CLARK and
Mann.
The difference is that the Dem
orratic rank is solid and cnthusI
aStic behind Clark. Mann. who
has made a fine leader. has both
open and secret opposition Nh
prominent leaders like Augustus
p. Gardner, the angel of prepared
ness, and three or four others less
pronounced. 1t is said in the
Democratic caucus that there are
at least six Republicans who are
opposed to Mr.. Mann, and that
these will practically vote against
the leader. The Republicans do
not ronrcdc this however.
If the Republican rank should
be unhrokcn behind James K.
Mann, tlrn the five named must
decide the organization of the
house.
OF these five men, Schall, the
Minnesota Progressive is expect
cd to vote with the Republicans.
Some representatives declare the
support of Randall. the California
ProhibitioniSt. is with Champ
Clark. I'uIrr, the Massachusetts
Independent, was a Republican,
but is not in sympathy with some
recent policies of Mann, and is a
hopeful prospect for Clork.
London. the New York Social
ist. is nearer in creed to the Dem
orratic party and the Clark men
hope for his vote. Martin. the
Louisiana Progressive, once was
u Democrat and if this resentment
over the Democratic policy Oh
sugar can be overcome, he may
vote for Clark. which would give
Champ Clark one majority
among the "halanrr of power.
Besides. this the Democrats are
hoping with good reason. that a
rcopcning of the returns will give
them BcrkS of Mich igan. Il Demo
crat,
And Jeanette Rankin. the lady
from Montana is Il coy. sweet
Independent, who is by no means
given up by the gallants of De
morracy.
To second this ana lySiS of this
doubtful balance. which in many
prrspcctives shows an advantage
for Clark and the Democrats,
there are two things upon which
the Democratic leaders base con-
fident hope.
For these reasons and Il multi
tudc of Others of less moment, but
each important, the chances are
about three to one that the Dem
ocrats will organize the Sixty
fifth congress and that Champ
Clark will succeed himself as
speaker.