South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-08
Gill t and Mann
Feud May Disrupt
Republican Party
BY JOHN j. CARSON.

WASHINGTON, March Bitter
ness engendered among the follow
ers of Congressman Mann Of Illinois,
because of the part played by Chair
man Will H. Hays of the republican
national committee to defeat him for
the speakership OF the next house
of representatives. is not likely to be
allayed by the Iatter's success in
/ controlling the committee on com
mittees. The most violent antagon-
/ ism between Mann and Speaker Gil
lett, the protege Of Hays. is expect
+ ed 10 develop early in the next ses-
/ sion.
Leaks from the republican caucus
are now furnishing some idea OF the
q acrimony of the fight between ism
and Gillett and their respective part
/ isans over the speakership. Uncle
| Joe Cannon leader of the Mann fac
| ton. denounced Hays for his activi-
ties in Gillett's behalf and charged
I that the republican chairman was
already SEEMING for delegates TO the
next national convention" Uncle
: Joe did not disclose IN whose behalf
/ he thought Hays was soliciting these
votes for the presidency, but no one
here suspects 1t was in the interest
! OF Gov. Goodrich.
Cannon characterized the combin-
alton of Hays and Sen. Penrose. re
publican boss of Pennsylvania, as
"meddling with the affairs of the
I house of representatives. This
charge was repeated by Congress
man Mann before the caucus began.
Those who permit Mr. Hays and
Sen. Penrose to dictate legislation in
the next house will not support me
for speaker" Mann said. IF am
elected speaker there will be no in
reference from outsiders i'm the af-
fairs Of the house. That is doubtless
the reason Mr.. Hays and Sens. Pen
rose and Lodge do not favor my can
| didacy."
Except for those who may find
some satisfaction in witnessing a
clash Of these factions, occasionally,
there is not much comfort for the
public in the contemplation OF re-
publican control OF legislation i'm the
next congress. Gillett has the speak
ership and Mann is in possession of
the committee on committees, which
/ has the assignment Of committee
ships. If Gllett dominates. it means
the triumph of Sens. Penrose and
! Lodge and Smoot and representa-
tives friendly to their interests. If
Mann rules he will be under the
thumb Of Uncle Joe Cannon and
other reactionaries of his type.
'Progressives" in the house are
not taking kindly to the new speaker
Mr.. Gillett. but they would have
been Just as much displeased with
Mr.. Mann. If they show resent
ment 10 Speaker Gillett they may
experience difficulties with the legis-
Iation they seek for their districts
If they offend Mr.. Mann they are
| likely to be ignored in the filling OF
the committees. They may yet be
driven to work with the democrats
/ n they won't take that course they
/ will have only a choice between sub
mission to Gillett or surrender to
Mann and theywill be among the re-
| dictionaries in whichever of these two
camps they find themselves.
7
In it's broad aspects republican SUI
Dremacv in the next congress means
that Chairman HAYS Of the republic
/ an national committee will be n
powerful factor in legislation, which
/ will include the new tariff law and
NAV include the national policy to-
ward coal industry. and Hays has
been closely associated with the lat
ter industry for years That the "old
guard" of 10 years ago is back In
complete sovereignty and without
change Of heart or viewpoint, is APP
parent. That there will be no pro-
I gressive action TO which the public
has looked forward after all the ad-
1 vance that has been made elsewhere
in the world, also seems a fOregone
conclusion. These reactionarieS did
not fight the war TO make the world
safe for democracy but to enlarge
! the influence Of and increase the
profits of the autocratic privileged
interests they have fostered and pro-
tected since before the days Of Marx
| Hanna.