The Washington times., 1923-11-23
CAUCUS CALLED
ON SPLIT IN
HOUSE
Progressives Demand Support
for Cooper CiIIett to Face
Hot Fight.
By A. o. HAYWARD,
international News Service.


The strategic plans of the pro-
rressive group in the House of
Representatives for their forth
coming fight with the regular
Republican organization will be
drawn up at a conference to be
held here next week in advance
Of the Republican caucus, sched-
uled for December /, it was
learned today.
Fight Against GiIIett.
Discussing the plans Of the pro-
gressives today, Congressman John
N. Nelson OF wisconsin confirmed
the reports that the organisation Of
the House for business will he
blocked until concessions have been
made to the prOgreseives through
support Of Congressman Henry Al.
len Cooper OF Wisconsin for Speaker.
This is expected to prevent Speaker
Gillett from getting q majority vote
Of the House members, necessary to
his re-electiOn.
Outstanding demands Of the pro-
gressives are changes in House rules
to allow votes on passage of all
legislation reported from committees,
denial to the House Rules Commit
tee OF arbitrary selective discretion
in advancing legislation for House
action, and representation by the
prOgressives on all important legis.
lative committees.
With these reforms and cnnces-
sions secured thu progressives be-
lieve It win be possible for them.
acting In accord with either the Re-
publican or the Democratic member.
ship Of the committees, to force
from the committees bills In which
they are particularly interested. In.
dorsement by the Republican leaders
of the legislative program of the
progressives is not considered es.
sential II the other demands are
granted.
Drafting Resolutions.
Resolutions providing the desired
changes in the House. rules are being
drafted by Congressman Hamilton
Fish, jr., New York, who has worked
on them since last spring. At that
time there was much consideration
given the subject by. the progressive
leaders, and an agreement reached
as to the general character OF the
changes desired.
In this work the ProRressives
are said to have had the assistance
Of some Of the democratic parlia-
mentarians Of the House. They
expect help from the Democrats IN
getting the new rules adopted.
Three, or possibly two, Progress
MVes on each of the important legis-
iative committees Of the House
would enable the Progressiyes to
hold the balance Of power on such
committees.
Look for Coalition.
It Is assured that the Repub.
ican majority In the House will
aeeede In general to the demands
or the Democratic leaders for larger
numerical representation on COM
mlttees because Of the large Demo-
There is opposition among Re.
publican leaders to the request
of the Democrats that they be
given eleven Of the twentv.five
members Of the Ways and Means
committee, five Of the twelve mem.
bers OF the Rules committee and
thirteen OF the thirty-five members
Of the Appropriations COMMITTEES.
Contests over these demands NAV
result In a temporary coalition Of
Democrats and Progressives al.
though Democratic Leader Garrett
said today that no decision con.
corning such course by the
Democrats could be reached until
the December caucus preliminary
to the meeting Of Congress Decem.
Der 3.
COOlidge's Hands Off.
1t was learned at the White
House today that, President Cool.
ldge does not want to take a hand
IN the fight between william J.
Graham of Illinois and Nicholas
Longworth, Of Ohio over the Re.
publican leadership of the House.
After a conference with the Presi.
dent, Graham announced that the
President had expressed no pref.
erence between the two candidates.
and was willing to let them fight
it out so long as an effort was
made to preserve harmony in the
party regardless Of the result.