The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-02-11

StUy SVvio
gresham Neither Republi-
can Nor Democrat
ny KIRKE SIMPSON
Washington, Feb. az The
premiere Of the 72nd congress, the
congress Of dreadful doubt as to
party control in both houses, will be
played before the list congress makes
its exit.
On Feb. 26 those Republican men,
beers of the house of the list congress
who have been RI : elected to the
seventy secondhand they are many
will sit in caucus to frame their
party slate for the next house, from
the speakership down.
Two days later, house Democrats
mot SO many in holdovers but with
newly elected members trooping to
join them-will do likewise.
Kvale in Novel Role
And about that time Rep. Paul ].
Kvale of Minnesota, the lone Farmer
Laborite Of the new house. will hold
that unique lone : man caucus" of
which he talks, to decide what his
role is to be.
At these first political clan gather
ings of the new congress 218 Repub-
licans, 216 Democrats and Kvale, the
only member not allied more or less
definitely with either major party.
will be present or accounted for.
There were at this writing two
house vacancies. two New York City
Democrats having died since election q.
Both were expected to be replaced by
Democrats at special elections. L:
would be something of a political
cataclysm If that did not happen.
Prophecies Futile
Thus. by the books, the Republi-
cans will have an absolute majority
Of n vote. Yet that is only by the
books. In only one of the three party
caucuses, Kvale's one-man show. can
there be complete harmony of po-
litical action and thought.
And what the ~dissension within the
ranks Of the major parties on prohi-
bition. on farm relief legislation, on
the tariff, on almost every other is
sue of the day may produce in a
house dominated by only a one-vote
nominal party control. not the wisest
political observer could say with GER
tainty.
Once, in the war congress OF 1917,
the Democrats organized the house,
although there were three more Re-
publican than Democratic members
on the rolls.
Coalition Control Then
There were nearly a cor of pro-
grcssives Or other independents in
that house, holding the balance of
power. Also the emergency. Of war
impelled many to yield support to a
Democratic administration, backed by
q Democratic senate, for war pur-
poses.
No such external emergency con-
fronts the seventy second congress.
Instead. the presidential campaign of
1882 is in the offing.
Domestic issues that cut deeply
across rather than along the recog-
ptzed lines Of political parties en-
barrass party leadership. Old ties OF
party loyalty have not stood the test
in the senate. Revolt has seemed to
simmer just below the surface even
in the present house.
And what will happen to any legis-
lative proposal In the new house.
where the SHIFT Of one mar OF the 435
who will be scanning political por-
tents back home would be enough to
determine action of the house in any
matter, is beyond calculation.
Whims Of Regularity
There are considerations for every
representative which urge party 10y
atty, even in the face OF diverging
views, II he does not imperil his own
reelection.
Committee chairmanships are val
liable to those who hold them. They
lend prestige: make the holder known
back home as a big man In WASH
ington. Also. party regularity means
at least a voice in the picking of
many federal office holders.
All those things count. They make
for party regularity even where the
urge Of old time party fealty has
weakened. They may. c0nceivably,
decide which party wilt organize the
next house.
Rcapportionment on Horizon
Underneath all other troubles Of
narrow nnajorities and conflicting
intra-party views for that new con-
gress lies another matter. It Will be
the last, q political miracle excepted.
to be elected On precisely the same
geographical district boundaries that
now prevail.
Reapportionmert Of the house UNI
der the 1850 census Is at hand. It
means certain redistricting for some
states. possible redistricting for al
most all.
Contrasts in Districts
Should reapportionment be effected
on an exact or even approximate dis.
tribution OF, political power III accord
ance with the distribution Of popula-
ton. hardly q house member would
escape drastic remodeling Of hts dis
trict.
And this is just another Of those
LN4 SOS &