Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-12-20
ENOUGH or CANNON,

The country Is tired of boss rule.
This includes Uncle Joe Cannon and
his rod OF iron. In no instance have
his arbitrary. dictatorial methods been
more generally protested against by
the press OF the country than when
he used the power which he has
usurped from the chosen representa-.
tiyes Of the people, and by that gigan.
tic gag called a caucus" forced them
10 vote as he wishes on the statehood
question rather than as they and
their constituents wish. Even suca
violent papers as the Springfield Re.
publican. which Is anti.New Mexico
and antieverything western, protest
ed against the attempt To force two
territories into a union against
their will.
Walter Weilman. the wellknown
Washington correspondent Of the Chi.
cago Record-Herald considers the sit,
uation In which the republican party
now finds itself q Serious one. and
u which may likely result In the
overthrow Of the leaders who are
responsible.
Mr.. Wellman says:
There In great deaf OF sstaik
among men Of both political parties
here 10 Washington to the effect that
the next House OF Representatives 10
hkely to have q democratic majority
and choose John Sharp Williams for
speaker, The republicans, Of course.
do not admit that they are going to
be defeated next TALL. but they do not
deny that there sre signs VI q reaction
among the voters. which. II II con.
tinues. will be likely 70 land a DEM
ocratic majority In the lower branch.
One republican leader put 1t this
way. In conversation. today:
I'VE are fortunate In our enemy.
The democrats are showing q very
poor quality Of strategy. II they
smart, they would take advantage Of
the present situation and make sure
Of the next House beyond all perad-
venture. The blunt truth IS that the
republican party here in Washington
IL In q pickle. We can't agree on any
important constructive legislation The
feeling between the executive and
legislative branches especially the
Senate, Is somewhat strained. The
leading republican senators are trying
to devise Ways and means Of sitting
down on Roosevelt, and the President
Is s~training every nerve to stir up the
people and force the senate to re-
spond to his wishes. TX the democrat.
ic leaders were wise generals they
would not announce tAeis intention
" support 4 republican railway bill,
as MI. Williams did Yesterday. They
would get up Z, bill Of their own, and
make IT a good one. Not being re-
~spohsibie. they should have no dif-
ficplty in agreeing 10 4 tactical move.
when we get into a row. as' we are
pretty sure to do. let them come, to
the front with their bill and offer to
save the day in the opinion OF the
great majority Of the people. The
democrats have a golden opportunity.
but | doubt II they are adroit enough
TO take advantage Of It.
Uncle Joe may inoeed have to get
out Of the speakers chair two years
hence and make way for John Sharp
Williams, but while ne is speaker
Uncle Joe proposes to be the whole
thing. He Is. Yesterday he sat
down hard On the shipping subsidy
bill. and 1t Is dead, as far as this
session Is concerned. Today he
cracked his whip and lined 'em up
on the statehood bill. whether they
liked II or not. Recently he vetoed
all OF President R%oosevelt's quiet and
not strenuous but mildly persistent
aspirations to tarir reform. He also
has issued his edict that II a railroad
bill gets through congress 1t must be
a moderate one. Uucle Joe Is hugely
enjoying has thirty-irst winter in the
national capital.