Evening star., 1919-03-02
What Congress IS Doing.
Contest of Wills Between President and the
Senate Absorbing Feature of the Week, With
Victory Still in Balance-Speakership Con-
test T caves G.. O. P. Harmonious.

timers have seen come apparently
hopeless log Jams and Legislative
deadlocks dynamited and pass down.
stream as smoothly as the Ice on
spring freshet.
AT this writing. therefore, it would
not be safe to make any rash prophe-
cies as to who will win in this contest
of Wills. Nobody Is likely TO doze and
miss anything in the meantime. for 1t
is certainly an interesting situation.
X
X y
The speakership contest came out in
q queer way; it was draw" between
two factions,
Speakership Fight IN one way.
a Factional Draw. the sneaker
ship, but his followers failed to get
control of the committees, and the
faction in the House which includes
the old line leaders will organize the
committees.
This speakership fight goes back to
the last election. The day after 1t was
certain thats the republicans would
control the next House a movement
was started which had for its double
object the defeat of Mr.. Mann for the
speakership and the overturning of
the seniority rule in committee ap-
point ments, so as to enable the piac-
ing of some men in chairmanshlps
who otherwise would be unable to
land. The plan succeeded only half
way.
A persistent campaign Of opposition
to Mr. Mann was started. Conceding
that he had earned the speakership
through his long leadership of >the
minority and admitting his ability. it
was urged that party expediency"
dictated his defeat He was alleged
to be reactionary. 1t was very much
like the fight against 'Cannonism,'
so called, a few years ago. Politicians
outside of Congress took part, and
beyond question pressure was brought
to bear from senatorial quarters on
some of the House delegations.
Men admitted the unreasonableness
of some of the arguments against Mr..
Mann, but added that they could not
afford to go against what seemed to
be a widespread impression in the
country, and said they would have to
vote against him. For fortnight be-
fore the caucus his defeat was prac-
tically certain.
X y
But the rank and file of the repub-
Iicans were apparently not ready to
carry out the Sec
Rule of Seniority ond object OF the
anti-Mann can-t
Still in Effect. paign, the over |
turning of the rule of seniority and |
the complete revolution in the person |
mel of the committees which was con-
by the men who were back !
ing the speakership candidacy of |
Mr.. Giilett.
On the night of the caucus. the mo- |
ment that Mr.. Mann. before the vote |
was announced. rose and moved that |
the election of his rival be made |
Mr.. Mann's faction took
charge of the meeting. The clanor for
reform and revolution had been sat
isf1ed. apparently. A resolution was
under the terms of which the |
old-Iine leaders would practically |
dominate the all-important commit |
tee on committees and name the floor |
leader. So the revolution which /
started after election day is what out |
in Pike county they call "a dog fall"
Republicans in the House think that |
the outcome will work for harmony |
in. the end. Mr.. Mann is a good |
loser" and took his defeat without |
rancor. He was given a wonderful |
demonstration on the floor the next |
morning, enough to soothe wounded |
pride. Mr.. Gillett. republicans said, |
will make good Speaker. and the |
''kickers" throughout the country |
against the Mann candidacy will be |
satisfied 1t was thought that there |
will be fewer heartburnings by main |
tanning the old method of making up |
the committees than If the proposed |
revolution had succeeded, and that the |
republicans will work together all |
right
The committee on committees will !
meet next Wednesday and will ORGAN