Evening star., 1931-04-15
SMELL OPENS FIGHT
FOR SPEAKERSH|P.
Illinois Representatives Active
for Britten and TiISon
Is Receptive.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

| announced formally as d CdnOlOdLe 1OT
the speakership nomination, but friends
of his at the Capitol said today that he
was in the race.
Campaign for Britten.
At the same time dispatches from
| Illinois brought word that Republican
| launched a campaign for the nomina-
ton Of Representative Fred A. Britten,
chairman Of the Naval Affairs Commit
! tee, for the speakership nomination.
So far none of the potential candi-
dates for the speakership nomination
| on the Republican side have made for
| NAL and public announcement OF their
candidacy. 1t is known, however, that
Representative John @. Tilson of Con-
necticut, the majority floor leader. is
more than a receptive candidate. Mr.
Tilson was in Washington Monday fol-
| lowing his attendance at the funeral
Of Speaker Longworth. He left that
night, however for his home in Con-
necticut, and It Is understood that 1t
was his hope that the campaign for
the Speakership nomination would be
held In allegiance temporarily. Mr.. Til
son is expected to return to Washington
at least for few days around April 27.
Formidable Opponent
Col. Tilson's most formidable oppo-
nent in the East appears to be Mr.. Smell.
The New York Representative also came
to Washington on Monday following
the Longworth funeral and has been
here until today, when he goes back to
New York. II reports are true, he and
his friends have not let the grass grow
under their feet, but have been lining
up those members of the House who are
in Washington to support Mr.. SHELLS
candidacy.
Empire State for Smell.
Prediction was made today by a men,
Der of the New York delegation in the
House that the 20 Republican members
from the Empire State would be solidly
for the nomination of Mr.. Smell when
the Republican caucus Is held next Fall
It Is understood that active work has
been done by the Smell supporters
among the New Jersey delegation, the
Pennsylvania delegation and the dele
cations of several other States.
While the New England members of
the House are friendly to Col. Tilson,
some of them also are friendly to Mr..
Smell. It is clear that if Col TilSon
is to make headway he must have the
New England delegations in the House
quite solidly behind him.
Demand of West.
/ There has been much talk Of a de-
mand by the West that the speakership
nomination come to that section of the
country, and a long string of Western
members of the House has been men,
toned as speakership possibilities, in
cluding Representative Ramseyer of
Iowa, Representative Purnell and Rep
resentative Wood of Indiana, Repre-
sentative MapeS and Representative
Michener Of Michigan, Representative
Hawley of Oregon and Representative
French of Idaho.
1t has been expected that one of
these WeSterners would get seriously
into the race. Probably one or more Of
them is already engaged in a canvass Of
the situation. The activity Of the sup
porters Of Mr.. Smell IS likely to bring
other candidates. more strongly into the
open. Just how much can be done to
line up the members for this candidate
during the recess Is not yet evident.
Undoubtedly, however, the candidates
will seek to get In touch with key men
in the various State delegations, and to
line them up.
Dry Against Wet.
Representative Smell is a dry. Rep
resentative Britten, on the other hand,
is wet, and an ardent wet, demand
ing that the Republican party espouse
the wet cause in the campaign next
year. 1t does not appear likely in view
of the overwhelming dry sentiment
among the Republicans in the House
that Mr.. Britten will get very far If he
enters the race for the Republican
nomination for Speaker. It Is said in
some quarters that Mr.. Smell would be
more acceptable to the drys than would
Col. Tilson, although the majority
leader of the House has been careful
not TO go on record publicly on the wet
Republican leader Of the House.
Republican members Of the House ad-
mitted today that it might be exceeding
ly difficult for them to elect one of
their number Speaker, when the new
Congress opens, owing to the uncertain
ty as to the position, which will be taken
by Progressive Republican members. It
Is conceivable that the Progressive Re-
publicans, if they do not care for the
selection Of the party caucus, to place
in nomination one of their own num-
Der. The Republicans, including the
ProgreSSiveS, have a nominal majority
Of one IN the next House, counting the
Longworth and Cooper districts. where
vacancies now exist as Republican, If
the Longworth district should be car
ried by a Democrat, the Republicans
and the Democrats would be tied with
PIT each and the Farmer Labor mem
Der, Kvale of Minnesota, holding the
balance of power.
Effect OF AbSentees.
AbSentees on either side Of the cham
Der might have a deciding effect on the
outcome Of the vote for Speaker. 1t is
held in some quarters that the Repub-
licanS would be foolish to organize the
House when, because of insurgency, they
cannot control 1t. On the other hand,
it is said that the Democrats would be
unwise to organize the House, because
they would then lay themselves open
to attack on the ground that they failed
to put through constructive legislation.
The chances are, however, that which,
ever side can organize will do so when
the time comes.
There has been talk that Tammany
Democrats were inclined to kick over
the traces in the event Of Democratic
organization of the House unless they
were given recognition in the selection
of chairmen for important committees.
Representative O'Conner of New York
Is understood to be the Tammany out
fits candidate for ma jority leader in the
event that Representative Garner of
Texas is elected Speaker by the Demo-
Gratis. Because of seniority in length
of service most of the plums in the
House organization are slated to go to
Southern Democrats If that party should