Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-03
Progressive Threat
Continued from Page one)

but admittedly they have the votes to
tie things UP there if they elect to do
so.
In view Of this situation Republican
! leaders are entirely at sea as TO when
President Coolidge will be able to de-
liver his first annual message to Con-
gresc.
Representative Longworth Of Ohio.
the Republican leader. said tonight
that at the outset of the session tomor-
row the House would begin voting on
the election of speaker and that If a
deadlock ensued an overnight, adjourn
ment would be taken after two or three
ballots.
In the Senate the program Of the
majority leaders is for the swearing
in of newly elected senators and an
adjournment until Tuesday out of re-
spect to members who have died since
last March 4. There seems to be little
disposition on the part of the Repub-
lican insurgents and Democrats to up
set this plan.
Reiteratipg the determination of the
Progressives to block organization of
the House, Representative Nelson of
Wisconsin. chairman of the bloc. de-
clared tonight in a formal statement
that Congress is attempting to organ
ize under the same old guard and I'M
der the same old cry, Hail, hail, the
gangs all here!'
1.-THE opening maneuvers Of the old
guard leaders," he said, indicate
promises Of continued service to the
railroad manipulators, grain gamblers,
coal operators and influential tax dodg-
ers. but none whatever to the conces-
sion who is unable to maintain lob
by to represent him here, q lobby that
serves as the liason between secret
committees and the favored interests"
With the Democrats expected to line
UP solidly for Representative Garrett
of Tennessee for speaker, Republican
leaders, basing their estimate on the
vote in their party conference yester-
day for speaker. conceded that Speaker
Gillett undoubtedly would fail to OBJ
tain a majority on the first ballot.
With PA of the 225 House Republicans
present at yesterdays conference, Gill
lett received 19o~ votes, Cooper of Wis
consin, a leader of the insurgents, 49,:
Madden of Illinois, s; and Little Of
Kansas. 1. )
Leaders of the insurgents say that
in the voting in the house they will
he able to swing from Is to 20 Re-
publican votes away from Gillett and
since there are 207 Democrats. this
nuH1DST WOulu U6 SuIIlCl0ul W DIluS
about a deadlock.
Representative Longworth, who
was elected leader yesterday without
opposition, said tonight there had
been no conferences between the or
ganization and Progressive leaders
and predicted that there would be
no effort to compromise differences
prior to the voting tomorrow.
The fight which the insurgents are
making on the speakership question
is declared by their leaders to- be
evidence of their strength and deter
mination, once the house is organized
to insist on modification of house
rules liberalization" of committees
and consideration for their legisla-
tive program.
termination of the ratio as between
Republicans and Democrats of the
standing of committees and the reas-
signment of the majority members of
those committees cannot be made by
the committee on committees. Demo-
Gratis. at a loss at the time of their
caucus last night. as to what repre-
sentation they will be given on the
committees, were unable to proceed
with the selection of their members on
the ways and means committee who in
turn SeleCC the democrats on the other
committees.
The only business transacted at the
caucus was the unanimous endorse
ment given Mr.. Garrett for speaker,
the election of Representative Henry
7. Rainey Of Illinois as chairman Of
the caucus, and the rejection of a pro-
posal by Representative Stevenson of
South Carolina to take away from the
Democratic ways and means commit
tee members the power to make COM
mittee assignments and to place such
authority into the hands Of q commit
tee on committees.
The time of the launching of any
organization fight in the senate now
is problematic. Republican leaders
have taken the position thai since
the senate is 4 continuing body re-
organization is unnecessary and have
indicated that the initiative in pro-
jecting a contest much come from
either the Democrats or the Repub-
lican insurgents.
Senate Democrats will hold a con-
ference tomorrow in advance of tho