The Washington times., 1919-03-06
LEADERSHIP FIGHTS
RAGE IN CONGRESS

Two fights over House organization
commanded attention in Congress
sional circles today. They are the
contests over the Republican and
Democratic leaderships, The latter
centering about Speaker Clark.
The war on Speaker Clark promises
TO become bitter and spectacular. 1t
involves big Democratic politics. 1t
is well known that Clark will be a
candidate for President in 1920. and
il his opponents can keep Kim out OF
the minority leadership he Will be put
out of business as a Presidential can
didate
The effort to beat Clark. therefore,
finds encouragement in quarters
friendly to other Democratic Presi-
Dental candidates. and among a num-
Der of the Administration Democrats.
Opposition Claims Strength.
1t is based, at least in large part.
on the fact that the Speaker has re-
peatedly refused to align himself for
Administration policies. the opposi-
ton to Mr.. Clark lays claim to more
than a third of the Democratic
strength in the new House.
The man on whom the opposition to
Clark will probably center for the
leadership is Rainey of Illinois,
member Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee.
The movement against Clark is
strong, but the Speakers friends
said today il would come to nothing.
Thus far. the indications are that the
outcome will be the selection of Mr..
Clark for leader Of the minority. This
is in accordance with House tradi-
tions and the rule of seniority. Many
of the most influential Democrats of
the House will stand by the Speaker,
hai IN
Of Ways and Means and majority
leader in the Congress just ended.
Mann, Republican Whirlpool
In the Republican camp, the only
serious controversy thus far de-
Veloped is over the leadership. Un-
less this is settled by putting Mann
in for leader. temporarily, il looks as
if there would be a sharp struggle
between Moore Of Pennsylvania and
Mondeu OF Wyoming. LongWOrth OF
Ohio is handicapped by the factional
trouble in Ohio between himself and
the Fess following.
Moore, who is Mann adherent, has
many supporters, but Western mem
. bers are beginning 70 protest strong
IL against the idea OF making Gillet:-
a Massachusetts man, Speaker. and
on top of that making a Pennsylvania
man leader They say this would
give the East a predominance that
would be ruinous to politics. espe-
. cially when it is considered that Sen
ator Penrose Of Pennsylvania viii !
head the Senate Finance Committee !
Moreover, the opponents Of Moore |
crit5ciss his war record !
My He TrOubIe in CaUe~
Under the circumstances, there IS !
trouble ahezd in the caucus IL Moore 1
il chosen header and the selection of
Mann rs header, at least, temporarily. /
may be The solution
While there is much talk that nine |
OF the chairmeu OF the ten leading /
confines will be Mann men. the fact
IL that the adoption or the seniority
rule works out to the advantage OF a
lot Of G5lIe1t men Thus, the most
powerful chzirmanship in the House
Appr0pTiat7OR& goes TO Good a Gil
lett leader Moreover Gillett men
viii get important committee chair
msnships or positions on various
other committees outside the ten
principal ones Some OF these others
are going TO be important in the new
ConETeSA The support for the senior 4
ftJ rule among the old members, A
whether Mann or Gilled men, in fact III
Is 50 strong the cauCus Is not likely
40 change It and. the Committee on
Committee IL ski1IfulIJ placing men
with the object Of preventing a Seri-
GUS controversy in caucuA