Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-10
SPEAKERS DEATH
ADDS TO CHAOS.
House Confusion, Already
Evident Due to Abnormal
Conditions, Is Stimulated.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

passing there is the gravest occasion
for serious regret in public sense.
Taking the Government of the United
States as it will be when the new Con-
greSs sits for the flrst time December
2. the death Of Speaker Longworth
brings further confusion to a situation
already acutely confused He dies pre-
cisely at a dramatic turning point in his
own speakership, in the Republican
party's control of Congress and in the
very nature of the Governments parlia-
mentary fuisctioning, irrespective OF
party.
The fact the country faces a new and
abnormal condition constituted Spe-
cial reason for regret for the death OF
the Speaker just at this time. Up to
last March 4. Mr.. Longworth, as
Speaker, had behind him an invincible
party majority of, roughly, hundred.
Having so large majority, and having
the confidence of it, he and his asso-
ciates in Republican leadership were
able to make the House junction q
effectively and smoothly as Thomas B.
Reed. who has become the classic flg-
ure for mastery of the House. =
LongWorth, IN his personality as we'll
as his methods, had much of Reeds di-
rectnesS and candor coupled with
highly masculine geniality which saved
I0ngworth's forthrightness from seem
affection of Democrats almost as much
rs Republicans.
Between Longworth's spirit and
Reeds there was much In common. II
was Reeds genial way, when ne ana
his fellow Republican leaders had oe-
cided upon q majority program, 70 give
amiable notice to the leader OF the
Demcratic minority so the latter might
have opportunity to mobilize his forces
for orat0rical indignation.
I'VE have decided" Reed would say
20 the Democratic leader, TO commit
another crime"
II was autocratic. but it was an
effective method Of getting the business
of Government done. The country WIt
have the opportunity, when December
comes. to weigh the merits OF diner
emit way, for there is ahead of us new
condition. novel and abnormal IN our
parliamentary history. The connltlon
can be pictured by considering what
will follow on December 2 in part as
consequence of LongworthS oeath.
TiIsOn Likely Choice.
Normally, the consequence Of Speaker
Iongwortfs death would be that the
Republicans would put forward as nus
successor the second in the Republican
hierarchy in the House, Floor Leaoer
John @. Tilson of Connecticut Nor
rnally all the Republicans in the House
would vote for him. Normally he would
be elected. and the House would nave
Speaker with qualities not short OF De-
ing equivalent to those OF the late
Speaker. Normally the Government
would thereafter go on much as IN the
recent past.
This program here outlined as the
normal one viii probably be followed
only to the extent that Mr.. T1ison VIII
be the likely choice of the Republicans
for Speaker Beyond that, no man can
tell. for the fact is conditions are not
normal. The fundamental abnormality
and the fundamental reason for the
confusion ahead of us is that the two
parties are so evenly divided in the
House If either party had depend
able majority to organize and control
the House and direct it along lines OF
either Democratic or Republican policy,
the future would be clear and the coun-
try would be served according to the
lights of one party or the other.
The fact Is, however, each party has
within one or two of a majority. Even
before SPEAKER Longworth's death, no
one was able to say whether the Re.
publicans would have 218 votes for
Speaker and the Democrats 217, or vice
versa. AS of today, the uncertainty Is
made infinitely greater. Among other
consequences Of Mr.. Longworth's death,
it is quite possible the Cincinnati dis
trict which was willing to re-elect such
an outstanding Republican as Mr..
Longworth may now elect a Democrat.
The change of one vote is, however,
the least Of the public consequences of
Mr.. Longworths death. Other deaths
in both parties between now and De-
cember will swing the delicate balance
back and forth again and again. The
practically sure prospect is that the
rf-sIl s,,kz .rs-k,
with no certainty whether the Repub-
licans or the Democrats have the ma
jority
This condition stimulates extreme
unsettlement in both parties. In both
the parties small factions will demand
particular legislation or other conceS-
sions as the price Of their supporting
the regular nominee for Speaker. 1t
would have been so even had Mr. Long
worth lived, though to less degree
Already several Republican Congress-
men from Western and Southwestern
States had served notice on Longworth
that they would vote against him for
Speaker in revenge for his standing in
the way, as they alleged, of a tariff on
oil toward the close Of the last session.
What was used as a retaliation after
the event will now be used, Of course
as a threat in advance Of the event
Not only this oil group, but other groups
and individuals among the Republican
members VIII demand promises before
they vote for the new Republican nomi-
nee for Speaker
Trouble Among Democrats.
This condition among the Republi-
cans gives rise TO a corresponding con-
oitlon among the Democrats Already
some Tammany and other Northern
Democrats have made sullen suggestions
Lnat they would not support the Demo-
cratic nominee for Speaker unless they
are given special consideration by their
own party The grievance of these
northern Democrats is that in the event
OF Democratic control of the House the
democratic speakership and practically
all OF the important committee chair
manSnlpS would. according to seniority
go 70 IeXas and other Southern States
Much OF the confusion here pictured
was already certain as result of the
evenneSs of division between the parties
ana the consequent temptation of groups
70 go to the other party. II goes with
out saying that the opportunities for
confusion Is increased by the emergency
which makes it necessary for the Re
publicans to find and put forward a
new man for Speaker.
That the Republican nominee will be
Mr.. Iilson Is, as Of today. rather gener-
ally taken for granted. Such opposition
as there may be will probably have the
nature of small groups putting candi-
dates forward as part of the mechanism
Of demanding concessions.
Tflson as floor leader has been second
in the Republican hierarchy to Speaker
Longworth. 1t is true there is prece-
dent for not choosing the second in
line. There are precedents also for
real struggle. Speaker Longworth him.
self, as wei as his predecessor, Fred
erick II. Gillett OF Massachusetts,, came
TO their Offices only after real struggles