Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-23

That benevolent despotism Is the
most difficult form Of government to
overthrow is averred by historians.
Speaker Cannon is a benevolent despot.
The case is proved. When new con-
gress meets 1t approves the rules of its
predecessor BY this act the members
voluntarily bind themselves hand and
foot. and put all the power of the rep
resentative branch I'm the hands OF the
speaker and the committee on rules.
The speaker is tho committee on rules.
Other nominal members under the pres
ent organization are John Dalzell of
Pennsylvania. Charles II. Grosvenor of
Ohio Republicans; John Sharp VIII
liams Of Mississippi, and David A. Dc
Almond of Missouri, Democrats. HaV-
ing relinqushed even the power of free
speech and the right to represent their
constituents the members make futile
protest when the gag they have placed
I'm their own mouths causes them dis
comfort.
Mr. Cannons personality has been
the only thing at this session that has
stood I'm the way of n reform. If to his
arbitrary conduct of affairs there had
been added harshness or lack of un-
derstandiug of the tools with which he
dealt, there might have been an over
turn of power I'm the house. But Mr..
how to smooth them down; how to
favor their whims; when to be unyield-
ing and when to give way. Actually
one is reminded Of a kindly school
master with a lot of children.
The sense of discipline Is strong in
the Republican party. The rank and
file is accustomed to obedience. They
sink their private desires in what the
so-called "leaders" tell them Is the good
&c ottt good
of the party" has been worn threadbare
during this session. Republican MEM
bers have grown restive under the
sharp domination they have had to
endure despite the flattering cajoleries
of the speaker and his lieutenants.
There have been too many rules
brought in to whip through measures
on which the majority was divided.
There have been incipient revolts or
"insurrections," as they are commonly
termed, but when the test came the in
surgents have not had the moral cour-
age to stand out for what they believed
to be right. Whistlers definition of a
disciple as a person who had the cour-
age of his masters convictions might
be applied to some of them.
Ready for Change
Signs are multiplying that the Repub-
lican members are ready for change.
Another speaker than Cannon could not
keep his followers sweet tempered with
the present rules of the house in force.
The protests of the majority against
the rules on statehood, the rate bill
conference, and the Philippine tariff
bill have not been lacking In signifi-
canoe. So long ago as the 18th day of
last December Representative Crum-
packer of Indiana, an important MEM
Der of the house, who has served con-
tinuously since the beginning of the
fifty-first congress, introduced a resolu-
ton providing for the amendment of
the standing rules of the house in a
vital particular.
His resolution provides that the COM
mittee on rules shall be composed of
eleven members, seven of whom shall
be elected by the majority caucus, and
four of whom shall be elected by the
minority caucus; that such committee,
as soon as practicable after it's selec-
tion, shall proceed to appoint all the
other standing committees of the house.
1t also provides that the speaker shall
not be a member of the committee on
rules and that no member of the COM
mittee on rules shall be eligible to
membership on any other standing
committee. Mr.. Crumpacker frankly
says: 1.-THE proposed change is revolu-
tionary in purpose and spirit, and, If
adopted, would vitally affect the char
acter of the house as legislative body.
It's introduction was prompted by the
belief that the present system concen-
trates parliamentary and political
power in the hands of the speaker far
beyond what is reasonably justified by
the requirements of the house, and to a
degree that is subversive of free insti-
tutions."
The constitution makes the house dis
tinctly the representative legislative
organ of the government. Members are
supposed to be equal in rights and pri-
vilegas, each representing his own con-
stituency and rejecting its peculiar
shade of thought, but acting in the in
terest of the whole country. That this
is not true today everybody knows. In
1890 the appointment of committees of
the house was devolved upon the speak
er. At that time the function was not
one of great Importance. Originally the