New-York tribune., 1920-01-22
Republicans in
Family Fight
Over Harreld
Oklahoman. Who Voted
Against Denying Seat to
Berger. Is Given Place OIL
MiliVryAffairs Committee
Causes Storm of Protest
Party Caucus Threatened
if There Is No Other
Way to Undo Mistake

WASHINGTON Bureou
WASHINGTON. Jan. al.-A quiet
little family fight developed among
Republicans in the House to-day when
1t became generally known that the
Committee on Committees had selected
Repre- sentative John ". Harreld. of
Oklahoma City, as a member of the
Military Affairs Committee to succeed
former Representative +. II. La Guar
ala, VINO resigned after being elected
president of the New York Board Of
Aldermen.
Mr.. Harreld was one of the six mem
bers to vote against the resolution
denying seat in the House to Victor
Berger, because he had been found
guilty of giving aid and comfort to the
enemies Of the nation during the war
with Germany.
Committee Evenly Divided
Mr.. Harreld is reported also to be
pacitist in his tendencies. and since
the Military Committee is about to
come to an issue on the question of
a universal military training provision
IN the army reorganization bill, his
selection caused more excitement about
the Republican cloakroom of the House
weeks.
The committee is understood to be
quite evenly divided for and against
universal military training, although
Chairman Kahn has stoutly contended
that he viii have majority for such
provision when the time comes for
! vote.
But the selection of Mr.. Harrelc
sStlrred up spirit Of revolt in other
hearts than that of Mr.. Kahn. A few
hours after the Committee on Com
mlttess had acted Republican leaders
we're SO besleged with protests that
fheE immediately started out TO uN-
cover some way TO get out Of what ha i
al the prospects OF becoming party
row thaJ would leave quite q few scar.
behind it.
When the House adjourned tonight
II mad been decided first to try to get
Mr. 3arfeld to see the unwisdom OF
his taking the place and to induce him
TO agree not to. If this failed, plans
were laid to have a member Of the
steering committee VINO voted for the
Oklahoma Representative switch his
vote at another meeting to be called
at once.
Representative Griest, OF rennsyl-
vannla, was understood tonight to be
prepared to vote against Harreld at the
next meeting and in support of Rep
resentatlve Crowther, Of New York.
Under the House organization the
Committee on Committees is composed
of member from each state Whic,,
has Republicans in the House, and
eacn member sets as many votes at
committee meetings as he has Repre-
sentatives in his state Mr.. Griest has
tWenty-cight votes under the SYSTEM
more than enough to select Mr.
/ Cyowther.
Members OF the Committee on Com
mlttees explained to-day, when the,
heard Of the way other members hat
taken the matter to heart, that some
arguments had been advanced at the
meeting to the effect that Mr.. Harreld
was Republican coming from a dis
trict normally Democratic, and that he
ought to be given good committee as
slgnment, with an idea Of keeping that
district in the Republican ranks and
possibly addin@ few moro to the
Republican list in Oklahoma from the
rejected glory ne might be able to
spcd as a member Of the Military Com
mttec.
Republicans on Warpath
Apparently the fact that Horrcld
had voted against the resolution to
deny Berger a seat was overlooked in
tbe bright prospect OF gaining another
Republican seat. but friends Of uni
vcrsal military training were not en-
trely satisfied that Mr.. Harreld's paci-
fist inclinations were forgotten to the
same degree.
warpath. Republican Floor Leader