The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-12-15
COOPER DEFEATED.
WILL NOT BE CHAIRMAN OF RIVER
AND HARBORS COMMITTEE.
MONEY POWER DEFEATS HIM
Speaker Reed Departs From Custom in
Turning the Appointment over to @@%
the Committee and Burton of
ohio was Selected.

Representative Cooper of RaclLe VIII
not be chairman Of the Committee on
Rivers and HarbOrs, although he was
fairly entitled to the honor, as he was
the ranking mem Der of the committee,
standing next to Chairman Hooker OF
New York, who resigned to accept a
iudgeship. for on Wednesday afternoon
REPRESENTATIVE Burton of Ohio was
chosen by the members Of the Rivers
and Harbors committee to fill the
vacant craftsmanship occasioned by the
resignation of Representative Hooker.
REPRESENTATIVE Cooper was the ranking
member, ana ordinarily would have
been selected to fill the vacancy, but
some of the members preferred the
Ohioan and their position was made
known at a meeting which was held
Yesterday. It was believed that Con
oressm n Cooper would withdraw ID
favor of Mr.. Burton when it was
learned that his associates on the
committee were not N favor of choosing
him as their leader, and Mr.. Cooper
today practically withdrew from the
race, but did not do so with good
grace. None of the members wo2d
give any reasons for their opposition to
Mr. Cooper, but were satisfied with
voting to turn him down, which is an
extraordinary action, and is seldom
resorted to. The ranking member OF
committee is usually promoted to its
head, in the event Of the death or
resignation of its chairman.
The Wisconsin members were active
in the support of Mr.. Cooper and they
urged Speaker Reed to appoint the
Racine representative to the place.
The nine members representing each
district in the state except the First
{Mr. COopers) united in letter to the
speaker urging him to appoint Mr.,
Cooper In the letter the members
said:
We feel that Mr.. Cooper is entitled
to this recognition because of his
position on the committee, his length of
service in the house and as a member
of the committee, his familiarity with
the duties thereof; his recognized
ability and the deep interest which the
people of his district take in legislation
pertaining to the subject of navigation.
Should this perferment be conferred
upon Mr.. Cooper, it will be highly
appreciated by his colleagues from
Wisconsin,"
Tt was brought out in the discussion
that there was no question raised by
the members as to the ability of the
Wisconsin man to fill the position, and
it was expressly stated by members
who opposed his election that his in
tegrity was not brought into question.
Tt was evident, however, that the
scheme for the election of the Cleveland
man had been we'll set up, and Mr..
Cooper withdrew from the contest.
The committee then elected Mr.. Bur
ton to the craftsmanship. There is
considerable feeling among the Wis
cOnsin members and others who have
watched this remarkable proceeding,
and it is expected that more will be
heard concerning it before the close of
the session.
The correspondent of the Chicago
Times Hel aid made this explanation of
the turning down of Mr.. Cooper:
Speaker Reed did not want Mr..
Cooper to have the place because of
unfortunate personal feeling between
the two men that has existed for two
years. In order to avoid any RESPONSE
bility in the matter Speaker Reed in
structed the members of the committee
to select their own chairman. Accord
ingly the Republican members held a
caucus and agreed upon Mr.. Burton,
who was also the choice of the speaker.
The Democratic members were then
called in, a meeting held and Mr..
Burton formally elected Mr. Cooper
is naturally chagrined at lOOsing such
an important craftsmanship. Though
Mr.. Cooper will not discuss bis failure
to get the craftsmanship, it is said by
his friends that he believes the real
opposition to him came from the
Southern Pacific railroad company and
the Huntington lobby in Washington.
Mr. Cooper claims to have defeated
once before the River and Harbor
committee and again before the House
itself, the project to spend about 49,,
100000 of government money in i'm
proving the harbor at Santa Monica,
Cal, where the Southern Pacific Co.
owns extensive property"
It is not known what effect the
4urninC down of CONGRESSMAN Co0nar
will have on the securing of an appro-
priation for the Kenosha harbor and
there is no doubt but that Mr.. Cooper
as a member of the committee, will
work just as hard for the interests of
his home districts as he would as
chairman of the committee
No Humbug.
Foley's Honey and Tar does not