Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-13
| FIGHT ON PENROSE
LACKS "ST|NG" NOW
His and Warren's Election as
Committee Chairmen in SEN
ate Seems Certain
B0RAH LONE ANTAGONIST

Washington, May 13.-The fight of
the progressive Republican senator's
against the election of Senators Pen
rose and Warren as chairmen of the
finance and appropriations committees
respectively, has collapsed almost com
pletely.
Seven of the eight progrcssives who
met with Senator Borah on Saturday
and appointed Senators Borah and
johnson a committee TO inform Senator
Lodge, Republican leader. that they
were opposed TO the election of Sem
ators Ppurose and Warren. yesterday
denied they have any intention of car
rying the fight to the floor of the Senate
If any fight is made on the floor Of
the Senate against Senators Penrose
and Warren. Yesterdays happenings in
dicatcd, it will be made by Senator
Borah alone. The other progressives
either will absent themselves from the
Republican conference. which will be
held on Wednesday. or they will vote
against Senators Pcnrose and Warren
in the caucus and then abide by the
result of the party conference.
Borah Uncertain
Senator Borah. following Saturdays
conference, for which lie was author
lied by the other conferees to speak,
said that seven of the eight senators
who were present surely would carry
he had thunderstorm they would.
The denials that the fight would be
carried to the floor. unless Senator
Borah acts alone. were made when the
Progressives met again in Senator
Borah's Office yesterday.
Senators johnson, Kenyon. Nc
Nary, Jones, of Washington; Norris.
Mccormick and Cunmins declared that
they favored only making protest
against the election of the two leaders,
and especially Senator Penrose.
The progressivcs will meet again to-
day and decide definitely upon their
program for the party conference on
Wednesday. it is likely they will go on
record by adopting resolution opposing
Senators Penrose and Warren, indorsing
Senator Smoot for chairman of the APP
propriations committee and indorsing
their own candidate for president pro
temporc of the Senate.
Senators Borah and johnson called
upon Senator Lodge yesterday and
informed him the eight progressives who
conferred on Saturday never would sup
port Senators Penrose and Warren for
the charmanships of the two commit
tees.
Senators Knox and Brandegee were
present at the interview. Senator Lodge
informed the two progressives their pro-
test was a matter for the Republican
conference to consider.
Senator Moses, supporter of Sen
ator Smoot for the temporary chairman
ship of the Senate, attended the confer
ence of the progressives in the capacity
OF harmonizer.
1t was said yesterday "a gentlemen s
agreement has been made with the
Democrats whereby a sufficient mum
bcr of minority senators will re-
main away from the opening session OF
the Senate next Monday. to make il
certain that Senators PenrOse and
Warren will be elected to the chairman
ships they want.
Will Hays, chairman of the Republi
can national committee. is expected to
arrive in Washington today and
to use his efforts TO mollfy Senator
Borah and the other progressives. He
will act as the official ''harmOnizer'
in both the Senate and House contests
over the organization of Congress, and,
incidentally, undoubtedly will look over
the Senate for Republican presiden
tial possibilities.
The Republican steering committee
of the House, against which Repre-
sentative Longworth, of Ohio, and
johnson, of South Dakota. have been
fighting, is expected to be enlarged from
five to seven members at the House
caucus of Republicans on Saturday
night. Both factions agreed to this.