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Show jiEPEIOEIS WILL SELECTIKEMR j Will Sound Out Democrats and Republicans Before Congress rVleets. WASHINGTON.. Feb. 17. Four of the five so-called independent represent-J represent-J atives-elect who may have the balance jot' power in the organization of the next liose held a eoiiiVrem-e- lieru tonight to make plans for co-operation, but failed to agree to act as a unit on any propo.-al. They did agree to meet again shortly before the convening of iho new congress, after sounding out both Democratic and Republican leaders lead-ers as to their att it ude on reforms favored fa-vored by the independents. The conferees also pledged themselves them-selves not to caucus with any party before be-fore their next meeting. Those present were Uepresentative-clert b'ullcr, independent, inde-pendent, of Massac liu set ts, and Represent Repre-sent a tives Ma rtin, J-'rog re.ive-Prot.ee-tiuiiist, of Louisiana; London, Socialist, of Xew York, ami Randeil, Prohibitionist, Prohibition-ist, of California. Kcpresentative Scliall, Progressive, of Minnesota, was absent from the city. fending the next meeting, leaders of both big parties will be asked to inform in-form the independents in a general way whom they propose to place on the important im-portant committees and what attitude they would'take toward changes in the rules designed to obtain record votes in committees, including the committee of the whole, and to prevent bills from being buried in committees. The personnel of the new house is expected to include 2 Republicans, '215 Democrats and five independents. Two hundred and eighteen votes are required re-quired to elect a speaker. Coincident with the meeting of the independents, it developed that on tlie Republican side of the house where a split had been threatened over the speakership, a peace proposal has been brought forward under which the so-calied so-calied Progressive wing is expected to join in supporting Representative Mann for speaker on the condition that Representative Repre-sentative Lenroot of "Wisconsin be made floor leader. The peace negotiations negotia-tions have been going on quietly and well-informed members say they are showing good results. Although Representative Gardner has announced he will support Representative Represent-ative Lenroot for speaker, jnueh doubt is expressed in congressional circles if the Republicans ever permit more than one candidate from their side to remain lone; before the house. While doubtless several members will be given complimentary compli-mentary votes on the initial ballot, it is expected that the race quickly will narrow nar-row down to a contest between Representative Repre-sentative Mann and Speaker Clark in the field. The Republicans have by no means abandoned hope of organizing the new house, but the Democrats say Speaker Clark is sure of at least two independent independ-ent votes and probably will also get on the first ballot, the one additional necessary to elect. |