Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-23
Representative Graham, Seek !
ing Berth, Has Talk With
President - Harmony Main
Thought of Executive -
Illinois Congressman Points
TO Danger of Sectionalism |

Washington. Nov. 22.-Represen.
tative Graham of Illinois, after @
conference today with President
Coolidge. announced he would re.
main in the race for Republican
leader of the house. He said he had
gained the impression that the Pres
ldent would pursue a hands-off pol
icy in the contest which has devel-
oped between him and Representa-.
tive Longworth of Ohio.
Mr.. Graham explained he had
gone to the White House to discuss
the general political situation with
Mr.. Coolidge and his secretary, c.
Bascom Slemp, for years a member
of the house. While the President
desires harmony, said Mr.. Graham,
he expressed no preference as to
candidates for leadership. but indi-
Gated it was a question to be set
tied by Republican members of the
During his talk with the Presi.
dent, Mr.. Graham expressed the
view that continuation of Represen-
tative Gillette of Massachusetts as
speaker, with Mr.. Longworth, an
Ohioan, as floor leader, would not
properly represent the country at
large. Such a policy, he contended,
might injure Republican party pros
poets in the Presidential election
next year because of its national
character.
In formal statement issued aft
err his interview at the White House.
Mr.. Graham declared the movement
to make him leader was not a rad
ical or insurrectionar one.
IF the Republican party is to be
successful" said Mr.. Graham, eff
its Presidential candidate is to be
elected it must be because the peo-
pie of the country believe that the
whole country is represented and be-
ing considered in the administration
and conduct of national affairs by
the party. We cannot be sectional
in our councils. The contest being
made in the organization of the
house has nothing to do with indi-
vidual candidates; it is simply an
effort to make the house of repre-
sentatives what it ought to be and
" AAStb NhS PSOPlC IL SIldl1 US,
representative in it's acts of the
whole country, east and west, north
and south. To concentrate power in
any portion of the country does not
meet these requirements"
Mr.. Graham declared that house
Republicans supporting him were
deeply concerned with the makeup
of committees, and would press for
representation on all of the impor-
tant ones, including the Republican
steering committee.
supporters of Mr.. Graham predic-
ted they would muster at least eighty
votes for him in the Republican or
ganization conference which will be
held week from Saturday, two days
before the converting of congress.
House members identified with the
progressive Republican bloc reitera-
ted their intention of taking no stand
collectively on the leadership fight
but Representative Nelson, of Wis
consin, one of the spokesman for the
group, declared that in all probability
support would be given Representa-
tive Cooper, of Wisconsin, for speak
err. Progressives will attend the
conference to make known their de-
mands for representation on COM
mittees he said, but will not bind
themselves to the decisions reached
as to candidates for speaker and floor
leader.
1t was indicated by Mr.. Nelson
that if satisfaction was accorded the
Progressive Republicans on the
Ways and Means, banking and COM
merce committees no effort would be
made to block the election of Mr..
Gillette as speaker. A deadlock be-
tween Mr.. Gillette and Mr.. Cooper,
it was admitted, might delay organ
ization of the house, perhaps for
some days, postponing as a result
the delivery of President ,Coolidge's
message to congress.
Mr.. Nelson said that members of
the progressive bloc would meet,
probably early next week, to draft
their legislative and committe de-
mands. Thus far various members
Of the group have conferred with
each other but no general conference
has been held. Mr.. Nelson said the
progressives would control at least
seventeen votes.
Republican leaders generally were
inclined today to the view that the
Democrats should be given nine
seats on committees having a total
members of twenty one, as against
six during the last congress. Demo-
cratic leaders have announced they
will insist on twelve and nine ratio,
at the same time demanding eleven
members on the ways and means
committee which has a membership
of %, five members on the rules COM
mittee and fifteen places on the ap-
preparations committee, with a men,
bership of So.
Included in the Republican repre-
sentation on committees will be
members of the group supporting
Mr.. Graham and the progressive
bloc. if plans of the two factions
work out. This situation, coupled
with the INCREASE in Democratic re-
presentation. it was generally con-
ceded, might jeopardize certain legis-
lation advocated by the administra-
ton.