New Britain herald., 1923-11-10
THE OBSERVER Makes Random Observations
 On the City and Its People

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 the federal plum away from him
 Then again, it may be part Of the
 program Of independent republicans
 who believe that the party needs I
 few frst-cIass political funerals among them that of MT. Erwin. The lchairman of the committee is gener'
 ally understood to be associated with the machine" and, it is prophesied
 this will be a bad year for machine
 men. This same machine" has fal-
 len from the good graces of many of
 the rank and file. Two prominent
 office holders, who have been cogs 1T
 it's functioning, have brought disre-
 pute on the party by being connected
 with a case now pending in superior
 court. Since their arrest, the en- | fiineers of the party have been timer
 GUS and wonder what the end will be.
 We have had enough of the Losses" a republican told the. Ob-
 server this week. Tt is time the re- l publican party had a house cleaning | from top to bottom. The leaders
 nave failed to lead and they should step out"
 1 Action aplenty is expected in the fourth ward also. It is reported that | Ed Stebbins has retired as a member of the town committee from that ward and that no one has been se- lected to take his place. A number
 of candidates have been talking the situation over quietly with their friends. Among them is said 10 be
 Emil Hjerpe, a prominent Swedish resident, who would like Stebbins' berth. Mir. Hjerpe may expect some opposition because the claim is made that he was friendly toward Mayor I'aonessa when the latter was run ming for office, Whether this is true or not, the Observer has no means of learning, but the story persists and
 MT Hjcrpc may And the sledding hard.
 Talk in Washington indicates that
 Representative John Q. Tilson of Connecticut has an excellent oppor- tunity to become floor leader in the next house. Representative Tilson is a New Haven man, has had long ex- rerience in national affairs and en- joys the confidence of his constitu- ents.
 Speaker Gillett, resident of Springfield, Mass. is not popular with the liberals who hail from the middle west. They classify him as ultra conservative and believe that his con- nections with the reactionary element in congress make him unsuitable to hold the position longer. An effort has been made to unsent Gillett by offering him as ambassadorship. Ap- parently he has not risen to the bait and tenaciously sticks 10 his post.
 The western representatives in the house want to choose Mir. Madden of Illinois for speaker. In order to bal ancc the organization, they realize that the leadership should be allotted to an customer and 6se majority Of them favor Mir. Tison because he is thought 10 be a broadminded indi- vidual who will check the ultra-con- serrativcs and ultra-ra dicals in their drive for dominance. If Mir. Gillett insists on remaining in office. it is said that he. is strong enough to win his point. In that event, Mir. Tilson could not have the leadership because both offices would then be held by Now Englandcrs, situation which would rouse the westerners to pitch fork fury, especially because New IHnoIaaA at s.f important offices with Coolidge as president. Lodge as leader of the sem ate and other men from this part Of the country sitting tight as chairmen of leading committees.
 It is said that Mir. Tilson has made no effort in his own behalf to win the floor leadership. But the sugges- tion of his name has found favorable reaction in the minds of many thoughtful congressman who rec ognize talents and character.
 Dwelling on the situation. the Washington correspondent of the New Haven Journal Courier" sums 1t up this way"
 If Giilett refuses to step down and accept dignihed retirement as abroad he probably can be reelected speaker, despite the op- position. but his refusal to step out may mean the election of Graham as leader and put the radicals in the saddle Longworfh, at all events. will be bitterly opposed and even if he is successful it is feared that the situation will be bad as the fight may be carried on during the session and rause dissension in the republican ma iority. With a national election only year away. the need for har- mony so apparent. considerable pres sure will undoubtedly be brought to bear on Gillett either 10 change his mind with reference io diplomatic or to persuade him that nc has already been speaker long enough and should step down in or- der to pave the way for com promise which will bring together all Inc factions Of the party