The Washington times., 1923-10-22
COP. SPLIT ON
! SENATE HEAD.
! LOOMS !
Progressives May Make Fight
Unless Cummins Resigns
From ]. C. c. Committee.
By WILLIAM. K. HUTCHINSON.

BY WILLIAM. X. HUTCHINSON,
-Internat90nal- News !seryisee
A revolt by the LaFollette
group of Independents against
Republican reorganization OF the
next Senate may result from q
party movement to elect Senator
Albert B. Cummins Of Iowa as
presiding officer, it was learned
today.
The naming Of committee
memberships and distribution OF
Capitol patronage hang IN the
balance as LaFollette's adherents
are counted in the bare Re-
publican majority. The LaFol-
iette group protest against the
election of Cummins as presiding
officer as long as he continues II
the Craftsmanship of the powerful
Interstate Commerce Committee,
with its control over railroad leg
eslation.
Draws Vice Presidents Pay.
Cumunins. who has been Presi-
Hant Pro Tenn Of the Senate for
FOUR years. is now drawing the
912. 600 salary Of the Vice Presi-
dency. left vacant by lCoolidge's
elevation to the White House. The
most. besides providing social ad.
Vantages, places its occupant
above the Cabinet In political Inn
portance. Friends Of Cummins are
fighting for his election.
The La Toilette group, however.
In reported to be threatening war.
fare unless Cummins either resigns
his craftsmanship OF the Interstate
commerce Committee or declines to
be a candidate for the Senate's
presidency. If Cunnmins does re.
sign the chairmanship, Senator La
toilette would be his successor un-
der the Senate's seniority. rule and
this fact provides the motive Tor
the insurgency.
Compromise Sought.
Administration leaders are known
20 be proposing a compromise. be-
tween Cumminsi friends and the La
Toilette insurgents. This would be
the election Of. a compromise candi-
date to the coveted office. The In
dependents are said to be urging
Senators Norris of Alabama, Capper
Of Kansas, or McNary Of Oregon,
as their candidates, while the So
called regulars" are supporting
Senators Curtis of Kansas and Jones
Of Washington. Curtis probably will
be the most acceptable candidate TO
both sides.
The decision as to peace or war"
viii not be reached until after Sena-
tor La Toilette returns to this coun-
try early next month. Republican
leaders ~ EnnxxrTaz to he Sry ~
approach him with an olive branch
IN the shape of increased committee
representation for his independent
group. The Democratic side Of the
Senate, meanwhile is watching de-
velopments in the hope that La Fol-
1ette will decide against all COM
promise, resulting in a duplication
OF the 1911 fracas which deprived
the Republicans Of Senate control
despite their voting majority.
Majority. Is Slim. -
:.Admihistsatiosf. .spskesnasrE- -a-con-
tend they are not worried by the
outlook. declaring they viii let the
present Republican organization
continue, with Cummins as pre-
siding officer If La FoIlette's fol-
lowers revolt. They find authority
for this maneuver under a Senate
resolution passed in 1890. On the
other hand, the independents de-
clare this action would be illegal.
The next Senate will have fifty.
enc ReTdblicans, forty-three Demo-
Gratis and two Farmer-Laborites
The Republicans include La Fol-
1ette, Norris, Brookhart, of Iowa:
Frazier, Of North Dakota and
Howell, Of Nebraska, all inde.
pendents. This group with Sena-
tors Shipstead and Johnson, Farm
er-Laborites of Minnesota, hold the
Senate's balance of power" p,