Dispossession?

When the call went forth for holding the Republican Senatorial caucus on Nov. 29, it went to all Senators formally listed as Republicans-- to Senators LaFollette, Frazier, Ladd, Brookhart, Norris--as well as to the "regulars." It was only logical that it should be so sent. Although there was talk of dispossessing those gentlemen of their Republican committee posts, it of course could not be done without the action of the caucus. Certain of the regular Republicans in both houses have insisted that the insurgents should no longer be classed as Republicans in Committee assignments. In the Senate, Messrs. Smoot, Ernst, Reed (of Pennsylvania) are known to take this attitude. In the House, Representative. Treadway of Massachusetts is one of the leaders of the same movement. It is proposed to give the insurgents committee places in accordance with their strength as a minority. Mr. Treadway explained:

"This would in no sense be considered as retribution for their attitude, but rather a perfectly logical outcome of their own procedure and convictions."

It is doubtful, however, whether any policy of this kind will even be attempted before the assembling of the new Congress next year.

Meanwhile, the object of the Republican Senatorial caucus will be to elect a floor leader to succeed Mr. Lodge. Due to the deaths of Messrs. Lodge, Colt and Brandegee, places must be filled on the committees for Foreign Relations (two), Immigration (one), Judiciary (two), Naval Affairs (two), Library (one).

The situation in regard to the floor leadership was this:

Senator Warren of Wyoming was entitled to the post by seniority. He is 80, however, and has the important post of Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Consequently he did not care for the floor leadership. His chief motive, should he ask for the place, would be to prevent a fight between the other aspirants. It was agreed that there would be little opposition to him if he should express a wish to be chosen.

Senator Curtis of Kansas, Republican whip, was well liked by the regulars. In his capacity as a sort of assistant floor leader under Lodge he has been popular. He is 64.

Senator Watson of Indiana, 60, was somewhat too closely allied with the old guard to be considered an eminent contender.

Senator Wadsworth of New York, only 47, able and forthright, was a leading possibility because of his prominent place in the group of younger regulars.

If Senator Curtis were chosen, someone else would have to replace him as Republican whip. The whip's function is to circulate among the members of his party, sound them out in regard to specific measures, discover whether any of them had made embarrassing commitments that would prevent them from lining up with the others on a given bill, ascertain what amendments would make a bill acceptable to individual members of his group and generally try to line up the party vote. It is an important post, and Mr. Curtis has shown himself able in filling it.