Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-23
Appropriations Chairman in
House Describes NebraSkan
as "Demagogue."
SPLIT IN RANKS MAY
AFFECT CONGRESS RULE
Further Cleavage Threatens Situa-
ton Like That in 1912, When
Third Party Was Formed.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Representative Will Wood of Indiana,
chairman Of the House Appropriations
Committee and chairman of the Re-
publican Congressional Campaign Com
mtttee, today came to the aid of Robert
H. Lucas, executive director Of the Re-.
publican National Committee, who is at
tempting to read Senator George w.
Norris Of Nebraska out of the Republi-
can party.
Senator Norris Is neither q RepubN-
can nor a Democrat" said Mr.. Wood.
He Is consummate demagogue"
Joseph r. Mutt, treasurer of the Re-
publican National Committee, also
aligned himself in support of Lucas with
the cryptic statement today that 1T APP
prove Of Mr.. Lucas" according to an
Associated Press dispatch
Mr.. Wood is the first Republican lead
er in Congress to rally to the assistance
Of Mr.. Lucas since the disclosure before
the Senate Campaign Investigating
Committee that Mr.. Lucas had sent lit
erature to Nebraska last Fall in an eff
fort to defeat Norris for reelection. Mr..
Woods criticism of Senator Norris was
voiced as he was leaving the White
House after calling upon President
Hoover. He explained that his call upon
the President was for the purpose of
discussing further legislation relating
to the relief program Of the admins
tration.
Time for Showdown Seen.
An assertion by Mr.. Wood that Mr..
Lucas declaration that Senator Norris
Is not Republican expresses the sem
timent Of every real Republican In the
United States" added fuel to the flames
Of the intraparty row between the reg.
ular Republicans and the progressives,
already threatening large proportions.
The chairman of the Republican Cou<
greSSional Committee did not mince his
words in discussing Senator Norris.
There are too many people mas
querading as Republicans" said Mr.
Wood. The time has come fer shove
down. The Senate is supposed to be
Republican now, but such Is not the
case. In my opinion, It's political make
up Is nondeScr1pt.
I'VE have been palliating and pet
ting these fellows like Norris entirely
too long," Mr.. Wood added. eff there
Is to be Republican party, there must
he intended to back Mr.. Lucas to the
limit in his effort to read Mr.. Norris
out OF the Republican party. He did
not say whether he and President Hoo
yer had discussed the Lucas-Norris
affair.
Watson Declines to Comment.
Senator James E. Watson Of Indiana,
Republican leader of the Senate, would
make no comment upon the criticism Of
Senator Norris by Representative Wood.
Senator Watson said, however, that
he did not consider Senator Norris an
issue before the Senate. That he, Nor
ris, Is chairman Of the Senate Judiciary
Committee in the Republican organiza-
ton Of the Senate, and is due to con-
tinue in that place until December,
1931-n there is to be no special ses.
sion Of the new Congress. He made 1t
clear that the Senate regular Repuh-
licanS had no present intention of SEEK
ing to discipline Senator Norris by re-
moving him from his Craftsmanship.
The Indiana Senator said, however,
Hoover in whatever position the Presi-
dent took with regard to the retention
or removal of Mr.. Lucas from the Re-
publican National Committee.
THE President selects the chairman
of the National Committee" said Sena-
tor Watson. THAT is the Presidents
prerogative. I have had no conference
with the President regarding Mr.. Lucas.
But on any reorganization of the Re-
publican National Committee will sup
port the President If he intends to
keep Mr.. Lucas or if he intends to re-
move hinl-that Is the Presidents busi-
ness. I will be guided by his views.
Personally do not intend to take any
part in the affair"
From the White House came no state
ment today with regard to the Lucas
Norris row. But Mr.. Lucas insists he
will not resign.
CONTINUED on Page 8, Column 81