The sun., 1919-05-14
PENROSE-SMOOT
SENIORITY RULE
WINS IN SENATE
Progressive Fight Against
Veteran Leaders Ends at
To-day's Meeting.
SLOGAN NOW is HARMONY
Republican Senator's to Pass
Needed Legislation and
Beat Wilson's League.
Special Despatch TO THE Sun.

Special Despatch TO The Sun.
WASHINGTON, May ia little more
Of the bottom dropped out of the
threatened fight among Senate Re-
publicans to-day and there was a gen.
eral feeling tonight that when the
party holds its conference at IL
o'clock tomorrow morning to perfect
a slate for Senate organization Mon
day harmony will be the watchword Of
the hour. fractional differences will be
laid away so that everybody may slug
the Democrats, put through the legis-
lation the country expects from the
Republican majority and fight the
League of Nations with a united front
The Progressive element will hold
another conference tomorrow Just be-
fore the party meeting. but from indi-
cations tonight 1t is regarded as
probable that beyond some vigorous
speeches in the conference the Pro-
sressives will not go except to demand
two places on the Committee on Com
mittees, which takes care Of assign
ment Of members. Since there are
nine on this committee. two Progress
Ave members would not interfere with
any plans of old line leaders and
would still give this branch Of the
party representation and a voice.
1t was copsidTed doubtful tonight
II there would be more than a ripple on
tNe floor of the Senate over the choice
tNe Finance Committee. Senator Borah
Qdaho) is not expected to vote for him,
cut beyond that Progressive opposition
may not SO. -
Decision Up to Senator Warren.
Senator Warren (wyo). who, under
'he seniority rule. would become chair
man Of the Appropriations Committee
but who has been opposed by some OF
the Progresslves probably will get the
place unless he removes himself from
the field and allows Senator Smoot
tttah) TO be chosen. Mr.. Warren
said to-day that he would not take the
'hairmanship OF the Military Commit
Zee, TO which he also Is entitled under
the seniority rule and to which the
PTogressives would like to shunt him,
but that it would be Appropriations or
nothing. II he sticks to this position
there is little for the old line leaders
10 do but put him over.
livery chairmanship of an important
committee in the Senate goes the senior
iiy road, and every Senator knows that
II he wishes to become chairman of
enc OF them he must wait a long time.
Senator Warren has waited a long time
50 has Senator Lodge (Mass), who
wants to become chairman OF the For
eign Relations Committee. and Sena-
lor Nelson (Minp). who wishes to head
mo judiciary Committee, and many
o'lers including two of the Progress
s'e group. Senator Jones (Wash). who
under this rule would head the Com
hieIee Committee. as well as Senator
Cummins Ga). who is to be made
chairman of the Interstate Commerce
Committee.
senator Warren does not want the
Military Committee chairmanship be.
cause he is Gen. Pershing's father-in-
law and believes that in that office he
might embarrass the General in the fu-
'We lie feels also that New York
state is entitled to the chairmanship
and that Senator Wadsworth IN. "
Who will get 1t II he does not, should
have the place.
About the only other point of dispute
mas been the President pro tenn. of the
senate. Some OF Senator Smoot's friends
were anxious that he take IT. but he Ii
Understood now not to be a candidate
senator Johnson (CaL), who has the
support Of all Progressives, does moi
want II, and they were unable to get IL
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