The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-18
CLARK
TO LEAD MINORITY
fractional Differences Lacking
at Democratic Caucus in
the House.
Special Despatch TO The Sun.

WASHINGTON, May 17.-Democrats Of
the House In party caucus to-day per-
Iected their organization to pilot the
Democratic end OF the House machine
In the next Congress without any OF the
fractional bitterness that had been threat
eneu by some of the more radical MEM
pers over the selection of Champ Clark
as minority leader.
Mr.. Clark was nominated for the Of
nee by Representative Rucker (Mo.),
MS nomination was seconded by Repre-
sentative Gallfvan (Mass). II went
through by exclamation, the Democrats
present giving him n tremendous ovation
when he rose to say few words in ap-
probation Representative Saunders
caucus and Representative Ashbrook
(Ohio), secretary. without a contest
The radical element of the so-called
reorganization committee" which has
been threatening Mr.. Clark with things
more or less dire, did not utter q chirp
and was contented with the unanimous
adoption Of a motion to appoint a COM
mittee Of seven to consider the advisable
ity Of having a party steering committee.
representatives Garner (Tex.). Flood
lVa). Dewalt (Pa-), Thomas Smith IN.
", Sanders (La), Gard (Ohio) and
Candy Is. d. were named.
Mr.. Sanders who was the leader In
the abortive move to unhorse- Mr.. Clark,
was made chairman of this committed
but since majority of its members are
known to be friends Of the Missourian Il
Is probable that II a steering committee
is finally named It will not interfere
much with Mr. Clark's ideas Of leading
the minority.
"Pairfng" in Senate Protested,
Democrats in the Senate also held
their caucus to-day. Two determine
tons OF the Republican conference had
given offence to the Democrats, who
voiced II vigorously.
Especially was protest directed against
the resolution of the Republicans that
no pairs should be recognized in the
Senate In votes involving organizations.
The action had been taken by the Re-
publicans to insure against the poesi-
bility OF absentees pruning down their
insecure majority and causing embar-
rassment. Especial attention had been
given to insuring that all Republicans
should be in their seats Monday at noon.
and 1t was not proposed to open the way
to any fiukes by risking the chance that
the majority might be wiped out by
reason OF Democratic Senators pairing
This action will leave the Democrats
at a disadvantage because Il " certain
that some OF them will not be present.
Senators Gerry Or. IL. Harris (Ga)
Phelan (Cal) and johnson Is. d.
probably will all be absent, and except
Harris, a new member, they are regard
ed by the Democrats as protected by
pairs arranged heretofore. II the absent
Democrats are not permitted through
pairs to cancel an equal number Of Re-
publican votes the Republicans will have
n majority Of 70 -
actual preponderance in membership.
Senator Hitchcock (Neb) accordingly
introduced In the Democratic caucus a
resolution. which was adopted, declar-
ing:
That the Democratic minority con-
ference protests against the PROPOSE
ton that pairs heretofore In force can
be cancelled without notice and with
out giving aibsentees an opportunity
to reach Washington. and we espe-
cially deny the right Of party leaders
to cancel pairs which are a matter Of
honor between Senator'S"
No alternative was indicated by
Democratic leaders as to their course
II the Republicans should insist on the
no pairs rule. but II was made plain
by Mr.. Hitchcock and others that the
protest would be carried to the Senate
floor.
Membership OF Committees.
On the other point OF Democratic dis
sent there was long and heated dis
cussion In the caucus. The Senate some
time ago adopted a rule that the mem
bership OF committees shall hereafter be
limited to seventeen. Heretofore the
most important have had twenty. In
the last Congress the committees Of
twenty were divided on the basis OF
twelve Democrats to eight Republicans
The Republicans have now resolved to
divide on the basis OF ten Republicans
TO seven Democrats. The Democrats
urge that the ratio of twelve to eight
was fair enough in a Senate wherein
the Democrats had ten majority. but