Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-12
GANN0N'S DILEMM A
CONFLICTING CLAIMS OF CHAIR
MAN AND CANDIDATE.
His Boom Being Pushed Rapidly-Ac-
tive Canvass of the New Rep
resentatives Being Made.

"Oh, the boys won't do a thing to Uncle
Joe Cannon and the appropriations COM
mittee this session. said an observer OF
the speakership contest today. Just think
of how the fellows whom he has turned
down will go for him when Congress meets.
can just see them now. first giving out
little interview declaring themselves as still
on the fence on the speakership candidacy
and then going around to Uncle Joe and
saying:
well, now, how about that little mat
ter-that appropriation for my district L
have been trying to get Into the sundry
civil bill for so long, huh? 1t seems to me
they will have Uncle Joe between the dell
and the deep blue sea; don't know which
would be hardest for him to do-to have
to give up some of those appropriations he
has denied the boys or see the votes slip
ping away from him. It's kind of rough
on Uncle Joe, but it VIII be nuts for the
boys"
Mr. Cannons boom is being pushed, along
rapidly. The Minnesota delegation will
meet this week in Minneapolis and are ex-
pected to declare for him. His friends are
out in the west making an active canvas
of the new membership of the next House
in his behalf. 1t is confidently claimed by
those who active In his campaign that
he already has lead of about 20 votes
pledged to him. 1t will take 1O4 votes to
make majority Of the republican caucus.
In congressional circles it is thought that
the estimate of 10 is a little bit too opti-
mistc at this time, although every one says
that Mr.. Cannon now is In the lead
The west will be divided beyond a doubt
Mr.. Hull, one of the influential men in the
Iowa delegation, has announced that his
preference is not Mr.. Cannon, although he
will not stand out against a majority of his
delegation. There is another member Of the
same delegation, however, who is opposed
to Mr.. Cannon, and he Is Mr.. Hepburn.
The Indiana delegation, which was
thought to be in the Cannon column with
the prospect of Mr.. Hemenway becoming
chairman of appropriations committee, in
the event of Mr.. Cannon's selection, is di-
vided. Mr. Overstreet has announced in an
interview in Indianapolis that he is not for
Mr.. Cannon. 1t is thought that this an
nouncement will make some friction in that
delegation.
Effort on Minor Officers.
The speakership contest may make some
changes in the House officers If Mr.. Bah
cock should be Speaker, the office of SER
geant-at-arms, now held by Mr.. Casson of
Wisconsin. would haveto go to another state.
If Mr. Payne or Mr.. Sherman should get
the speakership, Mr.. Lyons, the doorkeeper
of the House, would have to yield, and if
Mr.. DalZell should win, the clerkship of the
House, now held by Major Mcdowell Of
Pennsylvania. would have to pass along.
MERCER Oh NeDrdSka, &C
cordlng to newspaper reports, is candidate
for the office of clerk of the House, having
been defeated for reelection to the House.
If Mr.. Dalzell should find that he could
not swing the speakership, however, 1t is
thought in congressional circles that the
Pennsylvania delegation would insist on the
retention of Major Mcdowell as clerk and
would give Mr. Mercer a lively fight, in case
that gentleman should decide to enter the
lists for the clerkship.
There are all kinds of combinations to be
made IN House patronage and important
committee assignments which may have
bearing on the speakership contest itself
1t Is considered a wideopen game, now,
with entries free for all, and every ex-
perienced member of the House Is looking
out for his own interests first. Friendships
end when fight like this begins, and 1t is
struggle for existence for all parties to it.