Guerrilla War

It was a historic moment, although it was hard to tell from the behavior of those involved. House Democrats cheered and mockingly waved their handkerchiefs as their Republican colleagues paraded up the center aisle of the chamber and out the door. When the G.O.P. members passed by, Democrats laughed and shook their hands.

Many involved hoped the dramatic walkout signaled the end of the bitter battle over "the bloody Eighth," the Indiana district whose tempestuously disputed seat was finally awarded to Democrat Frank McCloskey by the House last week. After a careful recount monitored by two Democrats and one Republican, McCloskey finished in front by four votes out of 234,055 counted. The House then quashed a Republican move for a new election. While the absent Republicans held a news conference on the steps of the Capitol, Democrats remained behind to give McCloskey a standing ovation and witness his swearing- in.

The Republican protest was the first such demonstration since 1890, when Democrats walked out over another angrily contested election in South Carolina. "You know how to win votes the old-fashioned way," Republican Bob McEwen of Ohio told House Speaker Tip O'Neill in the heat of the debate. "You steal them." McEwen's remark was only one of the unseemly recriminations flung by House Republicans at their Democratic colleagues during the turbulent week. A relatively mild comment came from Minority Leader Robert Michel when ! he said the Democratic majority had "run roughshod" over the Republicans. Majority Leader Jim Wright of Texas scoffed at the confrontational Republican theatrics, labeling performances like McEwen's "synthetic fury."

The struggle was really part of a larger battle within the Republican Party, in which young Turks on the right are challenging the collegial style of Michel, a widely respected minority leader who has tried to preserve the traditional decorum between the two parties. "There is a power battle going on," said one member. "Michel saw this issue as being used to undermine his leadership." He thus felt forced to lead the walkout in order not to be outflanked on his right.

When some of the Republicans returned to the chamber, to another standing ovation, it was clear that some of the fury had dissipated. "Mr. Speaker," said Michel somewhat sheepishly to his old golfing buddy, "we weren't going to stay away forever." The members burst into laughter. Replied O'Neill: "I am delighted to see my old friend back. As Joe Louis said, 'He can run but he can't hide.' "

Still, a few Republican diehards vow to continue the fight. Georgia's Newt Gingrich declared "guerrilla warfare" on the Democrats. Other Republicans threatened to continue "stalling" the workings of the House. But there is one critical problem with this strategy: it is a Republican President whose program is now before the Congress, and any G.O.P. attempt to delay House proceedings would slow down the implementation of his agenda. That agenda will be under consideration again this week, Wright said, "when tempers have cooled and sober, second thoughts have prevailed."