The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-07
HOUSE FACES
CONTEST OVER
SPEAKERSHIP
lnsurgent Group Refuses
Compromise and Names
Rep. Cooper as Candidate
NYE DEBATE TOMORROW
Question of Party Regularity
Will Await Result of
Seat Contest

Washington, d. c., Dec. 7:-R-
The sixty-ninth congress assembled
today for its first session with the
house facing another three-cornered
contest over the speakership as the
result of new challenge Of the Re-
publican leadership by the insurgent
group Of that party.
Reorganized with refusal to
compromise" with the regular Re
publican forces in the house, the in
surgent group has in effect spurned
the olive branch held out by Repub-
lican leaders by putting in the field
its own candidate for speaker--Rep-
resentative Cooper of Wisconsin.
This move, which was coupled with
a declaration of war by the group on
"the Mellon tax plan" and Of nten-
tion to urge real farm legislation.
will cost the insurgents all of their
committee chairmanships and rank
ing places if the program Of some
Republican leaders to make the
speakership vote test of party
regularity" is carried out.
Republicans Confident
Despite the insurgent move, Re-
publican leaders were confident of
Longworth of Ohio as speaker of the
house on the first ballot. Repre-
sentative Garrett of Tennessee is the
Democratic candidate.
Meanwhile in the senate, which vir-
tually completed organization at the
special session last March and faces
no serious contest over any office,
Republican leaders were awaiting in
dication from Senator La Toilette of
Wisconsin of his own desire as to
being assigned by the majority to
the standing committees before tax
ing action with respect to the treat
ment to be accorded him.
The question of the party regulari-
ty of Gerald =. Nye, senator dcsig
nate from North Dakota, which has
been brought up by the state Re-
publican central committee of North
Dakota, will necessarily not be raised
in the senate until it has passed on
his right to seat as the appOintec
Of Governor Sorlie. Debate on this
is expected to occupy the senate to-
morrow, after the reading Of Presi-
dent Coolidge's message.
Will Complicate Matters
Despite the clear-cut majority of
the Republicans in the house, the
reaffirmed attitude of the insurgent
group, which includes representatives
from North Dakota, Minnesota, New
York and Illinois, as well as those
from Wisconsin, undoubtedly will
cOmplicate matters somewhat for the
majority party in putting legisla-
tive program through the two houses.
in the senate, the record Of several
Republican senators from western
states in not infrequently opposing
administration measures and policies
makes the much narrower Republi-
can majority there even more narrow.
Declaring their intention to oppose
the tax bill, which was ready to re-
port to the house today, and to vote
on all other Legislation as they saw
fit was given by the insurgent group
in a statement issued by the Wiscon-
sin group last night and endorsed by
the full group after an organization
meeting at which Representative
Nelson Of Wisconsin, was reelected
chairman.
1--WE refuse to compromise" the
statement said, "or to bargain with
Mr.. Longworth or with any other
member Of the house on an issue at
fecting our rights as representatives
in congress to vote our convictions
of duty to our constituents"