New-York tribune., 1918-12-17
Two Sharp Fights On for
New Workers, One for
Fairchild's Ways and
Means Committee Place
Senators Are Brought In
Other Row Is Over Which
of Three Lame Ducks
Is to Get Job of SO, 500
BY Carter Field

ASHlNGION, Dec. lb.-IWo sharp
fights, with feeling running rather high
in one, are dividing the New York Re
publican delegation. One of these
fights, the one In which the feeling is
most intense, concerns the place
always given by the House to the Re
publican members from New York
York State on the Ways and Means
Committee. The two candidates are
Norman ]. Gould, of Seneca Falls, and
Luther w. Mott, of Oswego.
George w. Fairchild, the dean of the
New York delegation and it's member
of the Ways and Means Committee for
many years, is retiring from Congress
on March q, and the caucus of the Re-
publican members from the state must
choose his successor. Friends of Mr..
Mott and Of Mr.. Gould are making an
eager canvass, and there seems to be
as many issues as if the settlement
would decide the Republican nominee
for the Presidency.
The bitterness is engendered from
the fact thAt normally the place would
go to Mr.. Mott without question be-
cause of seniority. He succeeds Mr..
Fairchild as the oldest member in
point of service
Gould a Business Man
But those supporting Mr. Gould in
sist that the seniority ru hould not
be permitted to place on th Ways and
Means Committee a man O. no bust
ness experience, to represent the I'm
mense business interests Of New York
State and city in framing the tariff,
income tax and other revenue levies.
Mr.. Gould, his friends point out, Is
a manufacturer not only of long ex
perience. but of great success He has
the backing of a group of very lnfiu-
entail members of the delegation,
though it is understood that Senator
Calder is backing Representative Mott.
While technically the New York
Senators have nothing to do with such
fight, actually their influence is
generally felt, and the row now on is
so farreaching in its consequences as
to furnish a possible indication as to
who is really the Republican boss of
the state.
His friends here insist that Senator
Wadsw orth, who is now abroad, but
who will return, before the caucus,
will support Representative Could
A very interesting phase of the fight
is that should the Senators line up as
indicated a very substantial switch
will be shown from the New York
primaries Of 1916, when the Barnes
Wadgworth group was defeated, by
very small majority, through the aid
Of the very group of upstate mem
bers who are now supporting Gould
against Mott Mr.. Mott is regarded
as an out ana out Calder man
All About Lame Duck
The other fight contains no such
trace of bitterness. 1t is merely a
question of deciding which of the
lame duck Republicans shall have the
very good job of secretary of the
Senate This place, which pays S6,5O0
year, is generally regarded az New
York patronage when the Republicans
are in power. 1t is now held by James
s. Baker. who was put there by
Senator Tillman, now dead.
The man who seems to be most
favored by members of the New York
delegation here is Representative
BENJAMIN l. Fairchild, who was de-
feated by James V. Ganly IN the re-
cent election Representative Walter
M Chandler, who was defeated by
Joseph Rowan. is another candidate.
and w s. Sennet, who was defeated
IN the election Of 1916, is the third,