The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-06-02
K|TCH|N Deaf H
CLEARS WAY
FOR COP.
Fear OF a Democratic Speaker
In House Vanishes With
New Lineup.
By WILLIAM HARD.


removed from the eyes OF the Re
publicans the specter which Iona
has haunted them Of the possible
election of a Democrat to be Speaker
of the House of Representatives In
the next Congress.
From the personal standpoint the
death of Mr.. Kitchin is an occasion
for the deepest and most genuine
mourning by members Of both
parties. From the political stand
point, the developments which must
now happen are recognized by the
Republicans as leading toward free
ing them from one OF their pro-
foundest anxieties. The whole color
OF the political situation for this
country in the House OF Representa-
tives next fall is changed.
Garrett to Lead.
Mr.. Kitchin will be succeeded as
Democratic leader--virtually Ger.
fain1y--bv FINS James Garrett, OF
Tennessee. The Republican mem
hers OF the so-called progressive
group" In the House or Representa-
tiyes have been moving away from
sympathy with the regular Repupn'
can caucus. They have been NOV
ing toward q possibility OF co-opera'
ton with the Democrats in organic
ing the next House.
They might well have co-operateo
with Mr., Kitchin. At many points
OF opinion there was a contac'
between Mr.. Kitchin and them
There is no such contact to any
such extent between them and Mr..
Garrett.
Mr.. Garrett inclines toward be
ing a Democrat more Of the Sena-
tor Underwood type. His extreme
devotion to the general doctrine OF
States rights has led him into an
attitude of suspicion toward many
Of the Federal welfare" measures
which members Of the Progressive
group" are inclined to favor.
Mr.. Garrett is regarded by his
colleagues as a man Of excellent
native ability and OF strong native
tendencies toward conservatism. He
is thought to be extremely unlikely
to attract the 'Progressives" in the
sense in which Mr.. Kitchin at.
tracted them.
Republicans. COmforted.
He has been acting as substitute
to Mr.. Kitchin on the House floor.
That he will accordingly succeed
him is not much doubted. The new
situation which he will face is
freshly comforting to the Republi.
cans and yet today it is also rea.
Lied by them that certain con.
cessions to the ''Progressives'' will
In all probability yet be necessary
In order to get the next House
fully.
Comforted by the prospect of Mr..
Garrett as Democratic leader of tie
Rouse, the Republicans are stimuli.
taneousIy distressed and disnayed
Dy the consequences which thew
rear VIII flow from a recent speech
maze by Congressman Graham OF
Alinols. who is one Of the two chief
candidates for the position of leader
OF the Republicans in the House
Wnlcn VIII assemble next December,
In this speech. delivered at Rock
Island, ILL.,, on Memorial Day,
MT Graham attacked the institu.
e eion or the direct election of United
states Senators and by implication
at'acKeo also the institution Of the
olrect primary, which he is known
to regard with small favor. The
Progressive Group regards both
those institutions with great favor
ana can scarcely support a candf.
GATE who opposes them.
LOngwOrth May Lead.
The other candidate for Re.
publican floor leader, however, Is
Nicholas Longworth of Ohio, who
Is even less popular with the radical
wing OF the Republican party in the
House.
Longworth is probably ahead ot
Graham in support for the position
OF leader. If now the Progress.
sives" all veer away from Graham
Longworth will have him distanc.d
by a great margin. He will be able
in such circumstances to go forward
TO highly probable victory in the
Republican caucus.
Meanwhile, however, the Progress
sives' will be demanding from Long.
worth and from Speaker Gillett a
promise Of larger opportunities for
them In committee memberships and
in debates on the floor of the
House. Failing to get such a
promise, they will go to the floor
of the House and nominate their
their own candidate for Speaker.
This candidate will be Henry
Allen Cooper OF Wisconsin. who has
served more terms in the House
than any other Congressman except
Speaker Gillett.
Eighteen Progressives Listed.
There are eighteen Republicans In
the House who are counted as mem.
bers Of the Progressive Group"
The total Republican majority in the
House will not equal eighteen. The
Republican "Progressives" are there.
fore fully twice as numerous as they
need to be in order to keep the
House in deadlock if they break
away from the Republican caucus
candidate and nominate their own
candidate for the Speakership.
IT then the deadlock continues,
the prospect was that the Republic
can "Progressives" might drive a
bargain with Mr.. Kitchin on com.
mittee memberships and on policies
and might vote for Mr.. Kitchin for
Speaker and organize the House on
Democratic plus Progressive
basis. Mr.. Kitchin. not long before
his death, anticipated some such de.
velopment by saying that he ex
pected to be elected Speaker next
December.
Such an expectation could hardly
be cherished by Mr.. Garrett unless
Mr.. Longworth and Speaker Gil
let were peculiarly ruthless in refus
ing all countsnance to the aspira.
lions of the "Progressives" in the
matter OF committee opportunity
and floor opportunity for their