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National Affairs: Mortal Coyle

Last week Congressman William Radford Coyle of Pennsylvania cracked a joke of which the theme promises to be stale indeed before the 72nd House is organized. Mr. Coyle was traveling from San Francisco to San Diego. At first he planned to go by airplane. Then, cautiously, he took a train instead. His reason: "I couldn't run any risks, as I am one of the two Republicans who hold the balance of power in the House."

As everyone knows, Mr. Coyle's statement was not quite accurate. When he spoke, there were 218 Republicans, 216 Democrats, but...

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