Evening star., 1923-03-14
From the $50 Edition Of Yesterdays Star
PROGRESSIVE UNIT
IN HOUSE ASSURED
Sixty Members Declared
Pledged to Program for
New Congress.
DENY FIGHT IN PARTY
Leaders Say No Attempts Will Be
Made to Nullify
Caucuses.
DENY FIGHT IN PARTY

The movement to weld republican
progressive" elements of the next
House of Representatives into a com
pact working anit has reached
stage where its sponsors predicted yes
terday that at least sixty representa-
tives would be pledged to the organi-
cation before Congress meets again
next fall.
Spokesman for the group, which is
built largely around the La Toilette
strength In Wisconsin. disclaimed any
purpose to bolt their party caucus or
to seek any aid or comfort outside
republican party lines. At the same
time, however. they revealed that
definite program Of legislation was
In process Of formulation by the
progressive" organization, and that
every legitimate means would be
used to insure its enactment into law.
Would Revise Rules.
Among other things. the leaders Of
the movement want revision OF the
House rules. and an effort will be made
TO pledge members not to participate In
the election Of a Speaker until the com
mittee lineup Of the new Congress has
been made known and carefully exam
ined. Should that point be insisted on.
it might have r. pronounced effect on
the organization of the House.. where
the republicans. all told, will have
majority Of less than twenty.
The titular republican leaders Will
although they do not conceal their
realization of its possibilities. Should
any considerable number OF repuoii-
cans refrain from voting in the
speakership election. Speaker Gil
lett could not be reelected. That
the democrats will be permitted to
elect a Speaker is not regarded as a
serious possibility by the progress
sive" group. however. because they
believe their requests for committee
assignmerts viii be granted in order
to insure party solidarity.
Much OF the work of organizing the
new group has been done by Represent
ative John NJ. Nelson Of Wisconsin. for
years a leader of the La Toilette sup
porters In the House. He said today
that forty republicans already had sub
scribed TO a tentative form OF organiza-
tion and declared a canvss had led him
creased to at least sixty before the next
meeting of the House. He asserted that
the organization Is to be kept strictly
within the republican party.
Program Prepared.
A tentative program OF legislation
prepared for circulation among all
republican Representatives contem-
tation. taxes. farm credits. prestden-
tial and congressional primaries, CO.
operative associations. prevention Of
war, soldiers compensation. and
protection of the public interests"
in coal. timber. water power and
other natural resources.
1T is the purpose OF the progress
sive republicans in forming the or
ganization to relieve the House Of
the tyranny Of the floor leaders," said
d h
try knows. legislation in the House
is controlled by the floor leader and
the speaker. with the cooperation OF
the committee on rules.
All members Of the next House are
to be asked to unite upon a program
will enable the House to function In
response to the will Of the people.
''Our fight will not be personal and
is not to be directed against conserVa-
tives or anybody else. 1t Is not our
purpose to disrupt the party. but We
do intend to put progressive ideas to
the front We are not going to remain
on the back lines and simply oppose.
"The balance Of power in the two
houses Of Congress Is in the hands
posed to the President. We believe
that he will agree to our program.
May Oppose Gillett
mere Will pt llO ciSSlicl OA SpCdh
er until we have approved the COM
mittees. We intend to give particu-
lar attention to the composition of
the committees on ways and means.
interstate commerce. rules and the
steering committee. 1t is not our
purpose to disturb any craftsmanship.
We know that we will have the sup
port Of the democrats for much Of
the legislation we want.
while we look upon Speaker Gillett
as a conservative We regard him as a
fair and courteous presiding officer.
There is no hostility to him personally.
Many republicans. particularly the pro-
gressives. may. however, vote for some
other candidate for Speaker Of the next
House. There has been no agreement
yet as to that"