New-York tribune., 1919-02-24
Representative Madden Asks
No Revenge Be Sought
in Speakership Contest
Pleads for Seniority
Cillett Silent OH Subject;
Abrogation of Rule Is
Foreseen by Supporters
New York Tribune
IFdshinUt0n puredu


sentative Martin Madden, of Illinois.
who has managed the campaign for the
speakership Of his colleague, Minority
Leader James R. Mann, in a public
statement here to-day. virtually con-
coded the election of Representative
Frederick H. Gillett to the speaker
ship, and at the same time lectured
the Gillett forces, telling them that
there SHOULD be nc disposition on the
part of the successful forces TO take
revenge on those who fail"
The Madden statement was inter
preted as a warning to the supporters
of Representative Gillett that there
must be no abrogation of the senior
ity rule in selecting committee chair
men for the next House. While Mr..
Madden veiled this advice in diplo-
matte language, his meaning was clear
when he said:
"The successful forces will have I'M
posed on them the obligation of see
ing that committee places are appor-
toned among the membership of the
House in way as to make it certain
that the best legislative results can
be obtained"
Urges Singleness of Purpose
~ hope and believe" Mr.. Madden's
statement said, 81 speak for all Re
publicans in the House when | 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
entering upon the important problems
that confront the country with single
ness of purpose, which has for its OBJ
iect the promotion of the nations well
fare
"This is no time for politics, There
are too many big problems to be con-
sidered and acted upon. 1t is the pc
the best that is in every man, and
party politics for revenge must be elm
mated, set aside and ignored for the
one great object which confronts the
country namely, the rehabilitation Of
the dsintegrated forces in the eco
nomic life Of the country resulting
from the war
The Speakership Of the House is the
ion is made for the orderly conduct of
the business Of the House, and what
ever contest there may be to the
speakership should be, and I believe
is, along harmonious lines. There
should be no feeling in the contest,
and especially should there be no dis
position on the part of the successful
forces to take revenge on those who
fail.
Healthy Rivalry for Best
every member Of the House should
be left free to express his preference
withou. fear of discrimination. Healthy
rivalry in the matter of House reor-
ganization should bring out the best
in the elements composing the House,
not the worst that is in them.
"Thc principal thing to be remem
bered is that the people IF the United
States are not interested in individual
quarrels. Their interest centres in the
proper dispatch Of public business and
the economic administration of the
nations affairs.
"lndividual ambition, while laudable
must not be carried to the extent of
dsrupting the party. Mr.. Mann's
friends have adhered to the policy of
harmony, and suggested more than a
week ago the outline of programme
of procedure in the Republican CON
ference to be held February 27, to
which all the elements have been ask
ed to agree.
Contest Only in Election
at is fair to assume that an agree
| ment will be reached, and that no con
test is likely to happen on the pre-
| liminaries of the organization pro
! gramme. The contest problem will b,
confined to the election Of the officers
including the speaker, and that shoult
not cngender anything but the bes
feeling.
"Thc successful forces will have i'm
posed upon them the obligation oil
seeing that committee places are appor
toned among the membership of ths
House in sucn a way as to make i
certain that the best Legislative re
| suits can be obtained If this sug
geston is adhered to, and l have NJ
reason to believe it will not be, there
should be the completcst harmony
among the Republicans.
1T has been my purpose from tht
beginning Of the campaign to harmon
izc as nearly as I could all the Gle
ments on each side OF the contest, ant
hope that nothing will occur between
now and the close of the campaign
that will disturb the situation'
Seniority May Be Upset
There seems to be a strong likeli
hood that the seniority rule will bt
upset in several instances in SELECTING
committee chairmcn for the mex,
House, according to the opinion O
those closely in touch with the plan.
OF the Gillett forces.
Representative Gillett's campaign fo,
the .Speakership was not waged Oh an,
pledge to overturn seniority. This is
sue was avoided most scrupulously b,
the Massachusetts, man. Just what hi,
own feelings are in the matter are no.
clear even now, yet number of those
who have been active in his behalf ant