The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-08
.TAWNEY REFUIES
INSURGENT STORY
Congressman Declares He Will
Support House Organization
on Statehood Rule.
To Play the Insurgent Now
Would Mean Retirement from
Public Office.
, BY w. w, Jermane.

Washington, Jan. S.-Representative
Tawney Of Minnesota is finding that it
is hard for a man to live down an old
reputation. "Once an insurgent, al
ways an insurgent, he finds, is the
way folks here are disposed to talk,
and he has been good deal annoyed
because that talk for three days has
been spread before the public thru the
columns of nearly all the great dailles
in New York, under Washington date
lines.
The charge against him, in brief, is
that he is at the head of the insurgent
movement, which looks to combina-
tion of the anti-statehood with the
anti-Philippine tariff votes, democrats
and republicans, for the purpose of pre-
venting legislation along either of these
lines. The charge is made that Tawney
worked up the revolt secretly and then
turned it over to Representative Bah
cock of Wisconsin, who is now lead
ing it.
Speaker Changes Plans.
AS the result of the revolt the speak
er is said to have changed his plans,
which originally looked to taking up
the statehood bill today, and has de-
cided to permit the tariff talk to con-
tinue for perhaps another week, after
which he will bring the Philippine bill
to a vote.
This last statement is probably true
The revolt has assumed considerable
proportions and if the statehood bill
were to come in today, with rule fol
it's consideration, that rule would prob
ably be defeated. and with it the house
organization would be demoralized. This
explains the speakers change of plan
But by waiting week or ten days the
| opposition can be picked off a man at E
time, and then the statehood bill viii
have fine sailing.
Tawney Says "Not Guilty.
Mr.. Tawney has had absolutely moth
ing to do with this latest insurgent
movement. He agreed with the speaker
determinatio Of the republican con
ference. That conference decided or
joint statehood, and Tawney then quit
his opposition. He authorizes me tt
say today that he will vote for thu
statehood rule whenever it is presented
and that he will in all ways support the
house organization. This, of course, il
the only thing to do. AS chairman o:
| the great. committee on appropriations
he is vital part of that organization
and a member of the speaker 8 cabinet
To plot for the overthrow Of the or
ganization would make him guilty Of
treason, and this would be his las con
gress as appropriations chairman, anG
that would mean his retirement from
public life.
He Is a Conservative Now.
Whatever else Tawney may be, he i
not fool, politically or otherwise, an,
therefore he accepts without protes
the fact that the position he now hold
compels him to be conservative in
stead Of a. radical. He is thru with lead
ing insurgent movements, and fro1
now On will be good. 1t is proper t
say that If he were now as free to OF
ganize insurgent movements as he wa
prior to this session. and had take
hold of the present revolt, things woul
now look very blue for both Statehood
and the Philippine tariff. He was tn
most effective insurgent the house ha
for more than a generation, and hi
ability at organization amounts almos
to genius. The insurgents now woul
give their eye-teeth to have him wit
! them.