Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-07
CANNON MAKES A HIT
WITH THE TEDDY TIP
Speaker Creates a Sensation
Up in Maine.
FIRST PUBLIC UTTERANCE
Privately Voiced, but Never Cast on
the Waters Before.
LITTLEFIELD MAY YET WIN OUT
Not Believed by the Conservatives
That Gompers Can Succeed in
the Act Of Decapitation.
Privately Voiced, but Never Cast on
the Waters Before.
LITTLEFIELD MAY YET WIN OUT

l.
| No end of stir was created in
Maine and elsewhere by the state
ment of Speaker Cannon that
Roosevelt might be President
until 1912. The recent attitude of
Bryan may do much to further this
end. Meanwhile the Maine frying
pan continues to scatter much
grease. AS the political mist
clears and the conservatives begin
to make book it appears that Lit
tlefeld will be favorite in the bet
ting. The rail birds cannot think
that Gompers will succeed at the
guillotine, although there are no
long odds being laid against the de-
capitation. The democratic candi-
date has a speciality in secrecy.
Special From STAFF Correspondent.
ROCKLAND, Me-, September 7.-Speaker
Cannon created a sensation in the course
of his political address in this town last
trum that he was by no means convinced
that President Roosevelt would not be the
next President This statement, coming
from prospective candidate for the nomi-
nation occasioned a genuine stir of sur
prise in the large and intelligent audience
he was addressing. The remark was drop
ped by Speaker Cannon while he was dis
cussing the fact that the election of q
democratic House would not change the ad-
ministration of the government. Mr.. Can
non said that the Senate could not be
changed before 1908; that Roosevelt would
be here until 1908.
And" continued Mr.. Cannon, after a
pause, II am not prepared to say that he
won't be here until 1912" This is the first
| public utterance by man of great public
importance of a thought that has been pri-
| vately voiced and Is known to be enter
| tanned by many politicians of high rank.
Whether it was that Mr.. Cannon was
moved to that expression by the belief
| which has been growing in many quarters
since Bryan returned and opened his cam
pdiSH VI IdOiCduSm Is OHiy hHOWH " liiil-
self. 1t is not to be denied, however that
thoughtful republicans in Mr. Cannon's
class have been impressed by the apparent
increase of the opinion that somehow or
other Roosevelt is to be forced into the
| running and that Bryan's prospective can
didacy on his new platform will facilitate it.
The conservative judgment of people who
have been making careful estimate of the
political situation in the second congress
Vct@ -t-I1 t. %l-x IL
tlefield will be reelected by plurality Of
at least 2,O0O That would represent loss
| from his last plurality of 2,500 but would
be explainable in an "off year." even If 1t
were not for the unusual conditions exist
ing in his district.
An Element Of Uncertainty.
While the elements Of uncertainty in the
| situation fully recognized. the best
posted men of unprejudiced opinion cannot
| bring themselves to the conclusion that
MT Gompers will succeed in having Mr..
Littlefelds head delivered to him on a
charger by the workingmen of the second
district.
It is pointed out that the reduction of Mr..
Lttleield's plurality will not be altogether
due either to the efforts Of the Federation
Of Labor, although it is conceded that Mr.
Gompers will lay claim to the lions share
| of it. The fact that Mr.. Littlefeld is suf-
fering from the effects OF factionalism and
personal hostility in his own party, which
will be manifested in some degree on cleo
| tion day. Mr.. Littlef1eld himself is to blame
| for this factionalism, it is charged here.
He has offended and alienated by his "in-
dependence" as his friends call 1t, al
though others use the words "untractable-
ness and stubbornness, some very infiuen-
tial men in his district. The LittlefieId
way OF doing things is not always the
diplomatic way. by any means as every
| one Is aware who knows the man and his
manner. He does not possess the faculty
OF refusing request in q way to soften
the denial. The man who is turned down.
knows It., and Mr. Littlefield is no re.
spector Of persons when he gets In the
turning down" humor.
politician said to me last night: 'I
know OF one case where Littlefeid could
make sure OF 800 votes that otherwise may
be turned against him II he would agree to
reappoint postmaster whose term has ex-
pired But who can go to Littlefield. with
his ideas Of INDEPENDENCE and propose it 2"
They May Relent.
/ Some Of the influential factionists who
have been worrying him say now that the
election is close at hand that they will prob
ably relent, in view Of the fight Of the labor
unions on him. and vote for him. But"
they add. I'VE are going to keep him In a
sweat until the last moment" Mr. Little
fields plurality will suffer also by reason
Of the ENHANCEMENT over the state issl,es
on the liquor question. The entire republican
state ticket is expected to show a loss on
that issue, and he will suffer some also.
The effect Of the work Of Secretary Taft
and Speaker Cannon is already apparent.
and there Is no question that they have
made votes for Mr.. Lttlefield by using the
prestige Of the national administration in
his behalf The bold and vigorous onslaught
Of Speaker Cannon on the federation has
been widely discussed and has set the
voters to talking on national questions,
drawing their attention away from state
questions. This Is what the LittleAeld peo-
pie wanted.
A Closed Candidate.
The democratic candidate for Congress
has never opened his lips once on the issues