Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-01-02
RUMORs OF WAR IN WASHINGTON.

RUMORS OF WAR IN WASHINGTON.
There are run1ors Of war in Washinton. All
is not peace and good will in the republican par
ty at the national capital. The Psalmist re-
marked on one occasion how beautiful thing
it was to see bretheren dwelling together in
peace and harmony, but the republican bretheren
are not acting up to the Psalmists exhortatlons
NOT by jugfu. And it is the Christmas sea-
son also or was few days ago. Recently our
Washington correspondent told us OF the strife
among the republican leaders in the senate and
how Brother Gronna of North Dakota served
notice on Brother Lodge that he was bad man
from the bad lands of the west wolf from the
plains of Dakota and it was his day to howl when
the steering committee undertook to steer "lth
out consulting him in advance. Since then we
have report that the republican leaders IN the
house are also in some scrap. Our correspond
ent informs us that the factional fight IN the
ranks of the republicans in the national house
Of representatives appears to have broken out
again in mild form, with every indication that
it would soon become a virulent combat Inc
reason? Simple matter as Senator Henry
Cabot Lodge would say. Just this: Jim Mann
will not behave" To ascertain the reason it is
necessary to 60 back few months.
Early last spring the house Of representatives
caucused to select speaker for the 66th Con-
gress, this being the first opportunity they had
of this kind since 1911. Since the democratic ac-
cession in that year James r. Mann of Chicago
had been the G. o. P. floor leader, and an able
one. all agreed, SO it was assumed that he would
be chosen speaker.
But grave objections arose. 1t was discovered
that Chicago packing firm had presented Con-
gressman Manu. absolutely free Of charge and
with the firms compliments, with three and
one-half pound porter house steak, and, as sub
sequent developments proved, with horse as
WELL In the minds of many this convicted Mr.
Mann of close completely with corporate inter-
ests, and whirlwind Of denuncation sped DER
the country and invaded the congressional eau
Gus. Even Senator Boise Penrose Of Pennsyl-
vania was aghast at the enormty of Mr.. Mann's
crime In vain he assured the nation that the
steak was present from friend, not the packing
firm, and the horse and aged steed fit for nothing
but cultivating bungalow patch in the South
Shore district of Chicago MIR. Manns speaker
ship aspirations were doomed and Frederick II.
Gillett of Springfield Massachusetts, was chos-
en- over the man who had led the forlorn hope for
eight years.
So far but no farther would the caucus 60.
They were ordered to ditch Mann and elect Gil
lett and did so, but when it came to selecting a
floor leader they chose Frank w. Mondell of
Newcastle, Wyoming, of the Mann, or So
called "reactionary' faction. Which made the
Gillett, or alleged reform" victory somewhat
barren.
Mr. Mann attended the opening Of the special
session in May, then went to Chicago and Achil-
les-like, sulked in his bungalow. The utter in
ability of the Gillett and Mondell factions to get
together long enough to transact any real pub
lie business was soon apparent, and twice Mr..
Mann was summoned from the shores of Lake
Michigan to drive his erstwhile cohorts along
legislative paths.
With the opening of the regular session on
Dec. /, Mr.. Mann was much in inevidence and
has been ever since. That is where the trouble
lies. Mann was said to have broken down his
health by too close attention to everything on
the house calendar Undaunted he returned
this month and proceeded to follow closely ev-
erything that came before the house. And,
curiously enough, he appeared to be arrayed
against Floor Leader Mondell and Speaker Gil
lett on numerous occasions. He picked to pieces
bills over which his republican colleagues had
1.I1s L., lpr ,vIyyo hn fhn