Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-23
WOOD BACKS LUCAS
in FIGHT ON. NORRIS
Appropriations Chairman in
House Describes Nebraskan
as "Demagogue."

Der of the Republican National Commit
tee and never has been.
The declaration of war on Norris and
other Progressives in the Senate by
Representative Wood was considered
far more serious than the attack made
on them by Mr.. Lucas. Mr.. Wood is
an important member of the House
a leader of long standing. If other
Republican leaders join with Mr.. Wood
and the rank and file of the Republic
ans in Congress generally follow along,
the warfare between the insurgents and
the regulars Is likely to become even
more intense than it has been in the
past
Should the regular Republican or
ganization in the House and Senate
undertake to force these progressives
out of those organizations 1t is quite
clear that the Republicans may not be
able to organize either the House or
Senate in the next Congress. Perhaps
Mr.. Wood has taken this matter already
into consideration in making his direct
attack today on the progresSiveS. In
the House only vote or two gives the
Republicans nomina1ly the preponder-
ance. In the Senate the Republicans
have 48 members and the Democrats Al,
with the Farmer-Labor party holding
seat.
Just how far the cleavage in Repub-
lican ranks Is to go time alone will show.
But if it progresses much further Situ-
alton not unlike that which confronted
the party in 1912 may arise. Who would
lead the progressives in their effort to
gain control of the Republican organiZa-
ton, or in a latter effort to break away
from the @. o. p. and set up third
party is something of q conundrum.
Norris, Borah, Ptnchot are among the
names suggested. None of them might
get very far toward the establishment
of a new party. But break in the G..
o. P. ranks would almost inevitably
bring about an election Of Democratic
President in 1882.
Senate Leaders Anxious.
Mr. Lucas, in a statement issued Sum-
day night, said that the conduct of
Senator Norris of Nebraska in his OPP
position to his party had been revolt
ing" He added that until leaders Of
the Republican party not only fail to
support but give their active opposition
to men like Senator Norris they are not
doing their full duty to the party which
has come down to us from Lincoln"
While Mr.. Wood was defying Norris
and other ProgreSsives in the Senate,
the Republican leaders of the Senate
were considering somewhat anxiously
what Is to happen in their party organ
ization in the Upper House.
Should the regular Republicans gen.
orally get in line with Mr.. Wood, Mr..
Lucas and his activities against Senator
Norris in the last campaign are likely
to be overshadowed
BrOOkhart Attacks Lucas.
Senator Brookhart Of Iowa, one OF
the insurgent group Of Republicans
issued a broadside attacking Lucas, but
more particularly Secretary Andrew w.
Mellon Of the Treasury Department
Mr.. Brookhart took as his text part
of statement issued by Mr.. Lucas say
ing that Senator Norris conduct has
given rise to condition which amounts
to cancerous growth In the vitals OF
the Republican party.
Senator Brookhart said the real can
Ger which the Republicans must cut out
of their party was "Mellonism" and its
head was Andrew w. Mellon. He refer
red to Mr.. Lucas as "only q little nalig-
nant wart under the toe-nan Of this
big personality"
The Iowa Senator said that Mellon
ism" had been responsible for the
downfall Of the Harding administration
and for Mr.. Coolidge's declaration that
he did not choose to run" for PreSi-
dent in 1923. He described Mellon
ism" as a bipartisan financial control
Of the country and the Government
which made all kinds Of promises to
the people at election time but carried
out none Of these promises.
when a willing tool is wanted, the
most convenient place to go is the
Treasury Department" said Mr.. Brook
hart, referring to the fact that Mr.
Lucas had been internal revenue COM
missioner before he was made executive
director Of the Republican National
Committee.
Praises Norris to Skies.
In conclusion, Mr.. Brookhart praised
his principles to those of Lincoln
Roosevelt and La Toilette. He charged
that Mr.. Mellon had set up a COMMITTEES
organization with money to defeat u
possible Senator Norris and other Pro-
gressives who had the interests OF the
people at heart.
Senator Nye, chairman of the Senate
Campaign Investigating Committee, said
today that his committee had issued
subpoenas for all the checks drawn
against the $4,000 special" account OF
the Republican National Committee Sc!
I'D In the Commercial National Bank Of
Washington by j. r. Mutt, treasurer Of
the National Committee, with the pro-
| viso that checks might be .drawn
against this special account by himself
or Mr.. Lucas It was this fund which
Mr.. Lucas, acting for the National
Committee, pledged In part to secure
the loan of $4,000 on his own personal
note, to pay for literature which he
sent to Nebraska to be used against
Senator Norris in the recent campaign
Il To- Vry1an fa
today for his home in Louisville, KY.
for the Christmas holidays, said, when
questioned about the $4,000 "specta
account in the Commercial National
Bank for the Republican National Com
mittee, which has come into the IN
vestigation of the Nye Senate Com
mittee:
"The special account was set for
legitimate campaign purposes. How
shown in a report Of the treasurer OF
the National Committee, Mr.. Mutt"
Nye Calls It SIush Fund.
Senator Nye has declared that h
/ considers this special" account In the
/ nature of a slllsh fund, which might bt
used by Lucas to fight the reelection
/ of certain Progressive Senators who hac
| opposed the administration.
Further hearings of the Senate Cam
paign Investigating Committee, how
ever, have been postponed until January
5, when Congress reasSembleS, Senator
Nye said today, in order to enable
members Of the committee to keep theil
Christmas engagements.
Late yesterday afternoon the Senat'
Committee heard Wade H. Cooper
president of the Commercial Nationa
Bank, who testified regarding the loar
Of $4,000 made by his bank to MI. Lucas
and also the Especial" account o.
$4,000.
Chairman Nye announced he woult
summon Mutt right after the holidays
He Is to be asked why the COMMITTEES
opened the special account on Octobel