Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-20
Washington, ID. c.. Nov. 20.


TT HAS been so long since Republicans
l. have been in the majority in Washing
ton that the result of the recent elections
has aroused the keenest interest in the
reorganization of the Senate and House.
Old-time political activities have been re-
vived and groups of party men are every
where discussing the situation. Democrats
accept the conditions philosophically, eN-
cept as to the Senate, where the vote is
close, and the Republicans are feeling each
other out, conscious of the responsibility
they must now assume and hopeful that
ultimate unity Of action will ensue from
their counsels The big contest, of course,
will be over the speakership of the House
For this high and honorable position
half-dozen names have been presented, in
Guiding Mann, of Illinois, who has been
absent recently because of sickness; Gill
lett, Of Massachusetts, who has acted as
Republican leader in Manns absence;
Madden, of Illinois, who announces that
he will be a candidate if Mann is not;
Longworth and Fess, Of Ohio; Fordney, OF
Michigan; Campbell, OF Kansas, and
Towner, Of Iowa. Other States, including
Pennsylvania, which has the largest Re-
publican delegation, are also considering
the presentation Of the names OF "favorite
sons" In addition to the speakership, dis
cusson is proceeding with regard to moor
leadership, and the possibility or hght
by the younger or newer element IN Con-
gress to change the existing order Of pri-
ority on committees.
TN THE, coming shake-up, the date of
i which depends largely upon whether
President Wilson calls an extra session of
Congress, Pennsylvania is bound to play
an important part In the Senate, II the
Republican majority is sustained, Penrose
will rank high. AS chairman OF the i'm
portant Finance Committee he will, unless
the priority rule Is beaten, be in command
of all questions affecting the revenues, in
cluding the tariff, with the same influence
that was once exercised by Nelson A.
Aldrich. He is also the ranking Repub-
lican on the committees on Naval Affairs
and Postoffices and Postroads Senator
Knox, whose service has not been SO long
as that of Senator Penrose, Will also be
| advanced to important places commensu-
| rate with his fine abilities. The Junior
| Senator Is already on the committee on
| Foreign Relations, of which Senator Lodge
| of Massachusetts,, Is chairman, and to that
| committee the President will be obliged to
look for sympathy and support in treaty
negotiations and other vit;: problems Of
an international import. In the House,
the ordinary priority rules prevailing, the
Pennsylvania Republicans step forward to
| many legislative honors. They will have
a hand in the distribution of several hum
dred places from which they were sepa'
rated six years ago by Democratic sub
committee ON patronage, of which Mitchell
Palmer was chairman; but their big game
will be In committee appointments II they
do not secure the speakership Itself.
DENNSYLVANIA Democrats hold no
L chairmansh.ps In the House. The best
they ever did under the present Admins,
| tration was to capture tho committce on
Mileage. but that they lost When Warren