New Britain herald., 1921-03-04
l25 CONGRESSMEN
 LEAVE PUBLIC LIFE
Landslide Retires Many Oldtimers
 Woman in House

WaShington,t March 4.-One hun- dred and twenty-nfne members of the
 house and senate retired today to pri- vate life. Most of them went out in I the back wash from the tidal wave which swept the republican party into full control of all the functions of the government, but some few, re- | publicans as we'll as democrats, elect ed not to run again for their seats. One or two of the republicans may become officials in the Harding ad- ministration. but the great majority will know public life no more for two years, at least. and many for a longer period. if ever.
 Champ Clark. one of those who would have retired today, was claimed by death two days before the session ended. A picturesque character among the outgoing members was Senator Lawrence Y. Sherman, re- publican. Illinois, who did not offer for reelection.
 The actual number of house mem bers quitting was 1tS. but three of these-McKinley. of Illinois; liar reid. of Oklahoma. republicans and Carraway. of Arkansas, democrat, go to the other end of the capitol as senators. McKinley's house record was fourteen years.
 Too Big a Majority.
 The political landslide of November 2 gave the republicans a much larger working majority in the house-too big in the opinion of some leaders. The new extra session expected to be called soon will start with 3ef repub- licans. 132 democrats and one social ist. The lone prohibitionist in the closing congress under which the country went dry was beaten. There is one man shy--from Pennsylvania at-iarge. The republican vacancy caused by the death of the member elect will not be filled until fall.
 The new senate, which convened today in special session to act on nominations by President Harding. contains 5e republicans and 37 demo- crats. giving the republicans a ma jority of 22 as against only two ma pority during most of the last con- gress. when the lineup generally was 49 republicans and 4T democrats. The seating of two republicans in January in place of democrats gave the former a slightly larger working margin dur ing the last few weeks.
 For the second time in history the house will have a woman member, Miss Alice M. Robertson, of the Sec ond Oklahoma district who succeeds William ". Hastings.
 For the first time in the history of tho house the territory east Of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio rivers wiiindominate Legislation. re- pubIicans from that area being in full control and strong enough to overcome all combinations of repub- licans and democrats from the south and west.
 Many places formerly held by vet erans were captured by men young in years and politics, but some veteran politicians come in. among them Theodore Burton. of Ohio, a former senator. and Bourke Cochran of New York.
 Champ Clark's % Years.
 Champ Clark was to be succeeded by man new in congress. Although his service was not continuous, Mir. Clark's total time was 2s years, run ming third in that respect to Cannon and Speaker Gillett. Two Tennessee democrats-Sims and Moon--turned over their desks to younger mon after coming here together 24 years ago.
 Two leading democrats on the ways and means committee. which must frame a tariff law, Henry T. Rainev. of Illinois. and Hull of Tennessee marched out. Rainey after eighteen years and Hull fourteen. Sherwood.