Evening star., 1923-11-29
PR0GRESS|VES HOLD
KEY TO ORGANIZING
OF BOTH HOUSES
Congress May Be DELAYED if
Independent Tickets Are
Put in Field.
G. 0. P. TO AVOID ISSUE
OF PRESIDENT PRO TEN
Democrats, However, Intend to
Push for Election of Entire
Slate in Senate.

The attitude taken by the prosres-
sive blocs will determine whether
'aere is to be delay in the organiza-
',oh ol the Senate and House. These
olocS mold the balance of power be-
tween the regular republicans and
'he democrats in both bodies.
Should the progressives, through
we support of tickets of their own
cause deadlock, it would be impossi-
hie Tor the Congress to announce to
me President that the Senate and
house were organized for business
ana ready TO receive any communica-
lions he had to make to it, IT bas
peeh the Presidents plan to address
Congress Wednesday provided tha or
EaniZation has been completed by
that time.
ssnatd SON democratic and progressive
.hat there was no disposition on
thelr part to delay the President in
presenting his message to Congress
~ was said that if it was found inn
aereement regarding the organiza-
tioh or the Senate and House. il
might still be possible to arrange to
near the PRESIDENT and then to fight
several of the democratic senator's
met today at the office of Senator
Robinson OF Arkansas, the party
leader, and discussed further the
matter OF president pro tempore for
the Senate and also democratic COM
mlttee assignments. particularly with
reference to the new democratic SEN
RtorS.
Withdrawal yesterday of Repre-
sentative Graham of Illinois from the
majority leadership fight in the House
served to remove differences among
the regular republicans, but the de-
mands of the progressives still were
unsatlsfed, and their leaders We're
insistent that they would be pressed
even to the extent of blocking the
House organization.
Progressive Calls Meeting.
While republican leaders in the Sem
ate have decided not to raise the is
sue of an election of a president pro
tenn, democratic leaders were pre-
pared to go through with their orig
inal plan of selecting a full Senate
ticket and to seek its election
This being holiday, there was lit
lie activity at the Capitol. but the in
formal conferences which are being
held regarding organization of the
House and Senate will be resumed
tomorrow. Invitations have been sent
TO sixty House members by Repre-
sentative Woodruff, republican, Mich
1gan, secretary of the progressive
bloc, to attend a conference tomor-
row morning, at which a policy will
be outlined and course of action
determined
REPRESENTATIVE Nelson of wiscon-
sin, chairman of the progressive
group, has made it clear there is no
intention of urging members of the
pioc 10 vote as unit for q candidate
other than Representative Gillett of
MASSACHUSETTS for Speaker. Pro-
SresslVes, he said, will be free to ex-
press their preference for Mr.. Gill
lett, Representative Cooper of Wis
constn, who a number of Wisconsin
members have indicated they would
support, or any other representative.
Will Discuss Committees.
Republican and democratic repre-
sentation on Senate committees will
be the subject of a conference soon
between Senators Lodge of Massa-
chusetts, the majority leader, and
Robinson, Arkansas. the minority
leader 1t is expected that the pres
ent representation of ten and six will
De changed to nine and seven because
OF the reduced republican majority in
the Senate. but it is suggested that
the republicans may seek to mako an
exception in the case Of the finance
ana interstate commerce committees
senator La Toilette of Wisconsin.
a leader or the progressive bloc, is
the ranking member of both of tbesa
committees, and republicans saw that
should he vote with the democrats.
as they would expect him to do ON
most questions, a deadlock would en-
sue. "
to-
by Representative Woodruff in
statement issued today.
Ihe evils of an all-powerfuI steer
1ns COMMITTEES, controlled by three
ha1s 4esuised in IN seGps1 he said
people Tor an opening up of ieeis-
iative procedure in the House-and
that explains why the progressiyes
hold the balance of power in this
session.
Predicts Progressive Unit.
''The people have grown tired of
hearing Of the millionaire ways and
means committee They have re-
belled against legislation controlled
by the steering committee, which.
working under the domination of a
majority leader, the chairman of the
rules committee and the Speaker of
the House, has so signally failed to
accomplish anything for the people
and so much for the special interests
1.-THE progressives have been sent
to Congress by people who demand
that Congress be returned to it's busi-
mess of legislating for the whole
country Farm relief legislation is
and special interest legislation in the
Mr.. Woodruff predicted that the
progressive group in the House
would fight as a unit.
Senate democrats do not agree with
republican leaders that the election
of a president of the senate is un-
necessary. They hold that the va
cancy in the office Of Vice President
makes necessary the selection of q
president. contending that the pres
tdent pro tenn. Is without the power
TO designate senators to preside in
his absence and that there also Is
b question as to whether he is en-
titled to the emoluments that so with
the Office of the presidency by reason
Of the vacancy In the office of Vice
President
Cummins to Issue Call
Senator Cummins plans to call the
Senate to order next Monday and to
preside until the senate has elected
hts successor. Republican leaders
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