The Washington times., 1923-12-18
OLD GUARD BANS
COUzENS;FOR
SMITH
Democrat Will Be Elected, Wat
son Says, Rather Than
Any Progressive.
By WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON,
international News Service.

international News Service.
Although the House of Repre-.
sentatives began to function prop
erly today. the legislative wheels
Of the Sixty-eighth Congress re-
manned blocked due to the organiza'
ton deadlock in the Senate.
A well-managed movement was
launched in the upper branch, how
ever, to end the deadlock by the
election of Senator James Couzens
Rep9 of Michigan to the chair.
manship of the Interstate Com
merce Committee as a compromise.
A handful of Administration Sen
ators and the whole progressive
group were united behind COuzens'
Watson Predicts Smith.
On the other hand, the Old Guard
is determined no progressive shall
get the post Two hours before cne
Senate convened Senator James E
Watson (Rep) Of Indiana, after a con
ference with President Coolidge al
the White House, predicted that Sen
ator Smith, the Democratic caudi
date. would be chosen.
Watson said the Republican regu
lars did not propose to compromise
with the progressives by voting fol
Senator Couzens.
Peace More Advanced.
The peace negotiations were
fathered by Senator Borah of
Idaho, Jones of Washington, and
Gooding of Idaho. all so-called reg
ular Republicans. Their efforts
were directed toward pacifiying the
regular Republican ranks. whose
support was again given to Senator
Albert e. Cummins of Iowa, now
president pro tenn of the Senate.
The traditional seniority rule of
the Senate, under which every
chairman has held office since time
immemorial, was the chief STUN.
bling block to a peaceful settlement
of the dispute.
The Republican party's "elder
statesmen" were opposed to ac'
cepting Couzens as a compromise
candidate because he ranked eighth
among the Republicans on the
committee. They maintained the
post should be offered first to the
regular Republicans who outrank
Couzens on the committee.
The detection of Administration
Senators from Cummins' support
was led by Borah and Jones with
indications there would be more
OBJECTIONS during the day.
Both Senators announced they
would support Couzens because he
had a chance to win while Cum
minis cannot be reelected" They
were urging their Republican col
leagues to do likewise.
Compromise on Smith.
The insurgents announced they
would support CouZens solldIy
throughout the day and as long as
there remained any chance of his
| election.
This statement contradicted re
| ports that the progressives would
throw their votes to Senator ELLISON
d. Smith of South Carolina, q Demo
crat. in todayss voting. 1t was
entirely probably, however, that thf
| insurgents ultimately will support
| Smith unless Administration leaders
| agree TO a compromise.
| Couzens in previous balloting wor
| twelve Republican votes to his
| standard Five came from the regu
| lar ranks, and included Senator:
Borah, Jones. GOoding, Norbeck OF
South Dakota, and CummIns. him
| self
| The remainder were insurgents
and included Senators Howell ant
Morris of Nebraska, i4add anC
Frazier of North Dakota, Brook
hart of Iowa, all Republicans. ant
! Shipstead and Johnson, Farmer
! Labor, of Minnesota.
/ The peace negotiations today were
said to be centered on obtaining the
| consent of those Senators, who out
| rank CouZens on the coveted com
| nlittee, to waving of their seniOTit;
rights.
The Senators SO approached in
cluded Watson of Indiana, Mclean
of Connecticut, F'ernald of Maine
and Elkins of West Virginia.
Senators Cummins, Gooding and
La Toilette RepD of Wisconsin, WhC
also outrank Couzens already have
agreed to waive their rights, Cum
minis and Gooding doing so by THEN
votes and La Toilette by a public
| statement
Although success was not by an,
means assured, the dove of peac.
was at least lowering over tn,
Capitol for a change.