The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-11-16
SENIORITY RULE
MAY CAUSE BIG
G. 0. P. BATTLE
Bitter Fight Over Reorganiza-
ton Of Both Houses is Ex-
pected.

WASHINGTON. Nov ia move
ment to upset the ancient seniority
rule and keep conspicuous "old guards
men, out of commanding positions in
congress appeared among the progress
sive Republicans today
Despite efforts to maintain harmony
the movement gained Roadway and
unless a reconciliation is effected soon
all signs point to bitter party row
over the reorganization Of both houses.
Under the time honored seniority rule,
sometimes jocularly called the "senil-
ity rule" committee chairmansh1ps
are assigned to the members having
the longest period Of service to their
credit. often without regard to their
. fitness.
Preservation of the seniority rule in
the next congress means that Senator
Bots Penrose of Pennsylvania will be-
come chairman of the senate finance
committee and Representative Joseph
Fordney of Michigan will be assigned
TO the craftsmanship Of the house ways
and means committee. Thus the all
important financial legislation Of the
country, including the revenue meas
ures, will fall into the charge of two
Of the most influential chiefs Of the
"old guard"
Seek Good Of Party.
These are just two illustrations OF
how the seniority rule will work in the
next congress- Members Of the pro-
gressive wing of the Republican party
declared today that nothing could be
more damaging to the party during
the next two years than to have it
said, particularly in the middle and
far west that the tax legislation of the
country had been framed and piloted
by two such avowed conservatives as
Senator Penrose and Representative
Fordney.
1t would make no difference whether
the legislation was good or bad, they
said; il would suffice for the opposi-
ton to point out that Senator Penrose
Representative Fordney had 1t in
charge.
Senator Warren of Wyoming may
have his choice of two chairmanships,
either of the military affairs commit
tee or of the appropriations commit
tee. The two are almost equally i'm
portant Senator Warren is the oldest
Republican on both of them. II the
Wyoming senator elects to take the
military affairs committee chairman
ship Senator Smoot of Utah will be
assigned to the appropriations chair
manship under the seniority rule.
Lodge Fit for Post.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts will
become chairman of the foreign rela
tions committee by virtue of the Sc
niority rule. But Senator Lodge would
be the almost unanimous choice of the
Republicans if fitness were the test
He is generally recognized as the lead
ing authority of the senate on inter-
national affairs and there would be no
dispute as to his right to head the
powerful foreign relations committee
The seniority rule would return to
power the clique of men against whom
the progressive upheaval of 1912 was
largely directed, it was pointed out 1t
would give the Democratic party lead
country and charge that there has
been no reform in the Republican
party and that it is still under the
same kind of domination which caused
the big split in the 1912 campaign.
Numerous conferences took place
today among the Republicans over the
seniority question. Hope was still
held out that compromise might be
effected. The progressives said the
only compromise they would accept
would be a waving of all rights under
the seniority rule by leaders of the
"old guard"