The sun., 1919-02-24
MANN BITTER OYER
IMPENDING DEFEAT
Leaders Expect, However, Har-
mony at Republican Con-
ference Thursday.
REVENGE, TALKED ABOUT
Backers Of Gillett for Speaker
ship Have No Intention OF.
Hitting Back.
Special De.patcA TO The srs.

special Dsspdfch TO The srs.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.--Harmonious
action at the Republican confersoce next
Thursday, when a Republican Speaker
will be elected for the FIRST time in ten
years. apparently Is expected by all party
leaders in the House with the possible
exception of Representative James r.
Mann (Ill.). the present minority leader.
While representatives OF all factions
in the speakership contest-including the
leaders in Mr.. Mann's own movement,
are making 1t clear that the contest ends
with the Speakership Mr.. Mann has
taken occasion several times to indicate
clearly his personal resentment against
the apparently successful opposition to
his candidacy since the election of Rep
resentative Oillett seemed assured.
Those who have talked to the Illinois
member since Ohio and Indiana and
most Of Pennsylvania declared for Rep
resentative Gillett (Nass.) say he char
acteriEes his impending defeat as IAN
outrage" and his vitriolic attacks on
National Chairman Hays and Senators
Lodge and Penrose for alleged inter-
ference In behalf OF Gillett threaten to
disturb a harmony which all leaders be-
lleve TO be absolutely essential to sue
cessful legislative programme In the next
Congress.
Threat OF Revenge.
The word revenge has crept into
discussions OF the possible organization
nj BE- L., ~ L. hrno
days in a final attempt to solidify be-
hind Mr.. Mann all members who might
suffer IL the seniority rule should not be
strictly followed. A perfectly obvious
attempt has been made to pin this work
on the Gillett following. So far as can
be ascertslned this has had no effect on
the strength OF the Massachusetts men,
Der.
II can be said authoritatively. more
over, that the leaders who have sup
ported Mr.. Gillett have no intention OF
seeking revenge nor have they contracted
any political debts the payment of which
should Jeopardize party harmony.
That every committee Craftsmanship
will go to the now ranking Republican
on that committee Is not at all probable.
but changes will be made purely on the
basis of the merits of the various claim
ants and not as result Of trades for
strength. And this rule in the interest
Of harmony probably will be applied in
only a few of the more important chair
manships and will work to the benefit of
erstwhile supporters Of Mr.. Mann in all
probability quite as often as otherwise.
In a statement given to the press
to-day Representative Martin 3. Madden
(Ill.). manager of the Mann campaign.
takes virtually the identical position as
to harmonious organization that has
been taken from the start by the GIL
lett interests, although Mr.. Madden
drags in the word revenge" only to
repudiate that suggestion.
Statement by Madden.
His statement follows:
II hope and believe l speak for all
Republicans in the House when 1 say
that shall do everything both now and
after the caucus to assist in having
every Republican member of the House
feel the Importance and necessity of en-
tering upon the important problems
that confront the country with single
ness of purpose which has for its OBJ
ject the promotion OF tho nations well
fare
This 10 no time for politics There
are too many big problems to he con-
sidered and acted upon. II is the pc
Rod of reconstruction that calls for
the best there is in every man. and
party politics or revenge must be eliml-
mated, set aside and ignored for the
one great object which confronts the
country, namely the rehabilitation of
the disintegrated forces in the economic
life OF the country resulting from the
war
THE principal thing to be remembered
is that the people of the United States
are not intereS ted in individual quarrels.
Their interest centres In the proper des-
patch of public business and the eco
nomical administration OF the nations
affairs Individual ambitions while
laudable. must not be carried to the ex-
tent of d,srupting the party. Mr.. Manns
friends have adhered to the policy OF
harmony and suggested more than a
week ago the outline of programme OF
procedure in The Republican conference
to be held February 81 10 which all the
elements have been asked to agree.
'It is fair to assume that an agree
ment will be reached and that no con-
test is likely to happen on the prelim-
inaries OF the organization programme.
The contest probably vii! be confined TO
the election OF the officers including the
Speaker. and that should not engender
anything but the best feeling.
The successful forces Will have i'm
posed upon them the obltsation OF seeing
that committee places are apportioned
among the membership OF the House in
such n way as 10 make 1t certain that
the best legislative results can be OBJ
tanned. II this suggestion is adhered 10,
and have no reason to believe it will
not be. there should be the completest
harmony among the Republicans
"irSfa., been my purpose frotE 40 be-
ginning OF the campaign 10 harmonlze
as nearly as I could all the elements on
each side OF the contest. and hope that
nothing will occur between now and the
close OF the campaign that will disturb
the situation"