183 to 161

". . . For this reason I gladly join the gentleman from Connecticut in revolt against the President of the United States."

It was not an unusual remark for Representative Garrett of Tennessee, the Democratic floor leader. But who was the "gentleman from Connecticut?" As everyone knows, there are no Democratic Congressmen from Connecticut. The gentleman referred to was Representative John Quillin Tilson, duly elected leader of Republican forces on the floor of the House. Next to him sat Speaker Nicholas Longworth, who had just added his emphatic voice to the revolt against President Coolidge. Not since 1917, when Champ Clark fought the draft, had a Speaker of the House taken part in debate from the floor.

The occasion for this slashing of precedent and snapping of party lines was Mr. Tilson's amendment to the Navy appropriation bill, which asked for $450,000 to begin construction of three cruisers. President Coolidge had said in his budget message and many times since that he would brook no immediate appropriations for cruiser building. "Big Navy" men in the House were confident of defying him; potent and regular Republican leaders were backing them. The vote was taken last week; Mr. Tilson's amendment was rejected, 183 to 161. Who had saved the President ?

For one thing, Representative Burton of Ohio, wise G. O. P. veteran, had sounded a call for "an era of peace" just before the vote. A few regular Republicans such as Mr. French of Idaho, Mr. Green of Iowa, Mr. Luce of Massachusetts, Mr. Tincher of Kansas rallied round Mr. Burton; but the majority of votes which rescued the President came from unfamiliar sources: 62 Democrats (from Mr. Jacobstein to Mr. Swank); the lone Socialist, Mr. Berger; the entire Farmer-Laborite group, Messrs. Carss, Kvale, Wefald; Republican insurgents such as Mr. Frear of Wisconsin, Mr. Sosnow-ski, the Pole from Detroit, Mr. La Guardia of New York, who is now trying to bait Secretary Kellogg. It was a wave of pacifism rather than any great love of President Coolidge which brought these votes into the fold.

Voting against the President were such well-behaved Republicans as: Mr. Bacon of Long Island; Chairman Butler of the Naval Affairs Committee; Mr. Mills of New York; Chairman Snell of the Rules Committee and twice a guest of the President at White Pine Camp; and, of course, Leader Tilson.

So, there will be no cruisers unless the Senate votes for them and bullies some of the 183 Representatives into changing their opin- ions. Three rebellious Republican regulars (Speaker Longworth with his right hand man, Mr. Tilson and his left hand man, Mr. Snell) and their distinguished colleagues would be glad to help in the bullying of peace-loving Congressmen and even, it was hinted, in the further vexing of President Coolidge.

The "Big Navy" men in the House did succeed, -however, in putting through an appropriation of $200,000 to begin work on one $4,500,000 dirigible.