The Washington times., 1919-09-02

kE llLLEhs
scribe what is best for their party
and the country.
Asleep at SWiteh In House.
II the majority leadership in the
Senate is out Of plumb. scarcely less
can be said for ne House Of Repre-
Sentativea.
The House Republicans went 10
sleep at the switch, and permitted
the President to take over for the
Administration the high cost Of liv-
ing issue-than which there is pos
sibly no more important before the
country today.
When the President sent word to
Congress that it ought to tackle at
once the question of the high cost
of living. his action Immediately fol-
lowed q decision OF the Republican
leaders OF the House to permit 4
recess Of that body for six weeks.
In fact, the Presidents bomb she'll
fell amidst q number Of members
Of the House, both Democrats and
Republicans, who then had their suit
cases in hand, and were en- route to
the tall timbers, the seashore or the
G. o, p. Negleets Chance.
The Republican leadership in the
House might easily have turned this
TO their advantage by in
slsting that Congress tackle at once
the cost Of living question and by de-
claiming, rightfully or wrongfully,
that the Administration had failed to
meet the issue for a year or more
past. AS II was, the President re-
ceived ali the credit for holding an
inactive House In session, and this
House subsequently passed a bill
aimed at profiteering.
This is but one Illustration OF the
rather chaotic situation existing in
the House Of Representatives. which
IL Republican by a large majority,
and which may pass bills and gain
the political credit therefor whether
or not they receive a signature at the
White House.
Whatever may be said about the
in the House. She truth is
the Republican majority, like the ma
jority in the Senate, is not a cohesive
organization. BY all the rules Of the
game, Congressman Mann OF Illinois,
who for many years had been minor
Ity leader, was entitled to the
Speakership. However, Mann had
made a number Of political opponents
within his own party, and Congress
man Gillett Of Massachusetts, was
lde Spemaker.
GllIett Dark Horse.
Six months before the caucus nomi-
nation of Gillett he was not regarded
~ a formidable candidate, or even
an earnest aspirant for that honor.
As ranking Republican of the Appro-
priations Committee, he had taken
some part in debate, but had never at
tempted to lead the then Republican
minority; and there were a half
iozen men regarded as woUld-be lead
srS, with Gillett's name not among
hem.
The selection Of Congressman Mon
iell Of Wyoming as Republican floor
leader was similarly a dark horse Sc
lection. Mr.. Mondell is an able and
lstute man, but il Is likely that not a
score OF Republicans a year ago
would have predicted he would be the
selection of the caucus for hooF
leadership.
Whatever surface indication may
be, there is friction in House Repub-
Iican ranks today. Petty jealousies
and animosities are recuFrent and in
terfere with the orderly processes Of
party procedure. They have their eff
feet upon party legislation.
Caucus Fails Of Purpose.
Better organization was discussed
at a recent caucus OF the House Re-
publicans, but little came from the
party confab. Congressman Mann,
who has been III in Chicago for some
time, was recently called to Wash
lngton, the report being that his
presence was desired TO smooth out
the party wrinkles. There are some
Of the so-cailsd progress
1--WE type who still assert that Mann
s the real power behind the screens
n the House, and that the leadership
II Gillett and Mondeli Is titular only.
4 will be recalled that Congressman
Nick Longworth OF Ohio was oae who
rot long ago inveighed against what
ie claimed to be the continued domi-