The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-12
REPUBLICANS ALL
 FALL INTO LINE Go on Record Against POStofflCe
 investigation HOUSE WAS IN GREAT RAGE Majority Has Shown That They Are Unwilling for Further Exposition
 of Republican Frauds
 and Incompetency.
HOUSE WAS IN GREAT RAGE
BY PATTERSON sTEALEY.

Washington, March 11.-(Special.) JAS predicted in these dispatches last night the republican membership of the house was today whipped into line and by a strict party vote the republicans went on record against an investigation of the postoffce department. If the vote had been taken last Wednesday there might have been a different result, but republi- can members who on that day and yes terday said nothing could prevent them from demanding an investigation today meekly came into line. and when the roll was called by vote of IA to 125 they stood pat on the graft and corruption in the department headed by the Presidents political adviser Henry c. Payne.
 The debate in the house today was live ly In the extreme. but 1t was plain to be seen that the republican demand for an investigation upon the part of some mem bers was gradually cooling off. President Roosevelt and the house leaders sent the word out to stand pat on the little cor ruption so far uncovered and their views were endorsed. But 1t required hard work on the part of the organization to keep some of the insurgents in line Con- gressional displeasure at the executive branch of the government was plainly manifested.
 Praises House Membership
 Representative Smith of Michigan in praising the membership of the house said he hoped the day was not far distant when one of it's members would be in the White House, its speaker. The state ment provoked the widest enthusiasm on the republican side as well as on the democratic side, which realized that it was a hit at the present executive. Mem bers rose in their places and gave vent to their endorsement of Smiths remarks by continued cheering.
 Nearly every member of the house was on his feet and the packed galleries join ed in the demonstration. It was fully five minutes before the speaker could restore order. As for MT. Cannon, he had noth- ing to say. The speaker knows that MT. Roosevelt is to be renominated and is to be supported by the republican party under protest of nearly all its members The matter is fixed. But the manner in which MT. Smiths suggestion was re- ceived by the republican mebership plain ly showed that Roosevelt is supported for renomination because there is no one else to support.
 Score Victory.
 In his efforts to keep hidden the corrup- ton which remains in the postoffice de- pertinent, the President and the house leadership scored a victory tonight, but the Cannon incident plainly showed that 1t was through his love of the President that the house acceded to his demands Democrats say tonight that the proceed ings in the house today will benefit them politically as much as an investigation would The people. they reason, are satis- fled that 1t Is the duty of congress to make a non-partisan investigation of the post office department On a record vote the republicans have voted this down Surely if there is nothing to conceal there should be no fear ofa non-partisan investiga- ton.
 From the minority leader, Representa- tive Williams of Mississippi down, there Is a feeling tonight that the democrats have now placed the republicans on rec ord where they belong against an lnvesti- gation which would expose the rascals and thus prevent them from being turned out.
 Means Practically Nothing.
 As for the Mccall resolution which passed the house by almost a unanimous vote today, 1t means practically nothing. It is not necessary to use the term white wash for there are very few members who need whitewashing in the light of the Bristow report. The whole truth is that the house worked itself up in rage over this report when there was absolutely no excuse for it. Few of It's membership are charged with anything except a zeal to get everything they could for their post masters. The report of the select commitA tee will. of course, eXonerate everybody. It was only through a misunderstanding throughout the country that It ever be- came an important document
 So odious have the names of the con- victed republican officials of the postof- flee department became to the people of the country that they could not under stand how member could be wholly guiltless who has ever had connection with them, officially or unofficially. But the report has had an important result. It has brought about debate and a rec ord vote which has placed the republican party in it's true position of preventing a