The sun., 1919-01-13
COALITION TO BEAT
MANN Is FORMED
Opposition to His Spcakership
Candidacy Based on 10y
atty Issue.
Special DESPATCH TO THE srS.


WASHINGTON, Jan. IA Republican
coalition in the House for the announced
purpose of defeating Representative
James r. Mann Gll). the present
minority leader for Speakership is being
organized by party leaders Opposition
to Mann will be openly organized. It
will be based on the loyalty issue as
matter of national welfare. II will In
volve tire support OF no other one man
for the honor aspired to by Mr.. Mann.
Not only will it not be held together
by pledges Of committee chairmanships.
but 1t will appeal largely for support
on party grounds because of the evident
intention of Mann to "Kitchinize" the
Republican party in the House by weld
ing to his support all possible beneficiar-
les of the old rule of seniority by which
the Democrats put the South in the
saddle and through which they accom-
plished the party defeat last November.
This move became known to-day; II Is
still very young and Is generally be-
lieved to have originated with the recent
meeting in Chicago of the Republican
National Committee. 1t was decided on
reluctantly after II became apparent
be successful unless taken out OF the
hands Of Republican members OF the
House and placed before the country
generally.
The plan TO crystalline anti-Mann
sentiment represents an appeal to the
country. ~ those who discussed II to-
day declared
A recent offer by the Chicago menu
ber's managers to turn the floor leader
ship over TO Representative J. Hampton
| Moore (Pa) in return for the support
of the Keystone State delegation played
an important part in the decision OF
national leaders to take a hand. Moore
probably was close to Mann himself
among prominent House Republicans In
| his strong anu-war and anti British
course. Ho was conspicuously aligned
| against strong policy in moves to as
sert and maintain American rights prior
to the actual entry OF this country into
the war. Republican leaders saw In the
| success of the Mann Moore trade a re-
pudiation OF everything ella imed for the
party in the successful prosecution of
| the war.
1t il not improbable that the result OF
the coalition will be the elimination Of
| both Representative Mann and Repre-
| sentative Gillett (Mass.). OF the two
Mann has so far the stronger following
, that it is considered improbable that the
| throwing OF the weight OF national party
| influence to Gillett would be sufficient 10
! elect the Massachusetts man. Nor is IL
| assured that a combination could be ef-
! fected between the followers OF Gillctt
and Representative Tess (Oh!o) in be-
half OF either Of the two unless strongly
| insisted upon by the rank and file OF Re-
| publicsns.
! iC NOT n arIt I,tA
but has assurances OF support from vari-
Gus quarters. To n large extent this
| support at present does not extend be-
yond FesSs personal supporters. In the
case OF Gilletts supporters the same
! rule holds true; he cannot dictate the
second choice OF the Republicans for the
Speakership.
Mann at present Is making a strong
fight for the support OF the New York
delegation. He has many personal
friends In II and several members OF
the delegation apparently are caught by
the assurance Of choice chairnanships,
If the vote should come tomorrow Mann
unquestionably would have a majority
at least OF the New York Republicans
now in Congress.
With Stephen q. Porter (Pa.) prom
tsed the Foreign Affairs Committee
chairmanship and with Moore's ambi-
tons for floor leadership the Pennsyl-
vania deal probably will go through un-
less stopped from the outside. With
Joseph q. Fordney (Mich-) In line for
the Craftsmanship OF Ways and Means
Committee, Michigan with the exception
OF one member stands pledZed TO Mann.
McndeIi (WyoJ and Campbell tKan) }.
both In line for important chairman
ships. are working hard for the Illinois
member. while STEVENSON (Minn)
ranking Republican on the Post Office
Committee. Is trying hard to swing his
State delegation to Mann's support