The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-21
BabcOck and OVtrSfeet Both
Declined
IN RANK OF INSURGENTS
Congressional Caucus Viii Be Called
Soon and the New York Man
Will Probably Be Chosen
AS Leader.

Indications point TO the election of Rep
resentative James H. Sherman of the
Twenty-seventh New York district to the
eharmanship of the republican congress
sional committee After vainly trying to
persuade Representative Babcoek of Wis
eonsln to accept the place and meeting
with his hat refusal, leading republicans
have gone to Representative Overstreet
of Indiana and insisted that he should
accept the management of the congress
sional campaign this fall
Mr. Overstreet declined and thus it
happened that both Babcock and Over
street. the only two men on the repub-
llcan side who possess any experience IN
congressional work. refuse to take the
leadership in the coming campaign. Both
Babcock and Overstreet have fights of
their own to look after and in addition
are not IN line with their party on the
principal measures pending before Con-
gress How they could undertake
fight against the democrats when they
agree with many of the bills they are
advocating is something Messrs. Babeoek
and Overstreet don't care to explain dur
ing a campaign.
Babcock Is Chronic Insureent.
Babcoek especially has developed into
chronic nsurgent during this session.
on the Philippine tariff measure and
statehood he has led the insurgent fight
and openly opposed on the floor of the
House the organization measures. Over
street has been treated with seant eour-
tesy by the President III the distribution
of patronage, the offices usually allotted
to the indianapolis district being turned
over, to Senator Beveridge Neither the
Wisconsin nor Indiana member feels that
he Is under any obligations to again
spend all his time in advocating the cleo
tion of an unappreciative House.
Representative Sherman who promises
to be the choice of the republican COM
mittee, is now serving his ninth term In
Congress While he is not seeking the
craftsmanship the leaders have prevailed
upon him to announce that he will accept
it If elected. He realizes that II is going
to be a difficult matter to put his party
through at the next election, but is will
Ing to make the best of it in view of the
fact that no other republican Of prom-
nence in the House or Senate will consent
to manage the campaign.
Senator Allison and Representative
Hepburn will call the republican caucus
within a few days. when from present in
dcations Mr. Sherman will be drafted for
the craftsmanship Republican headquar-
ters. following the usual custom, will
probably be in New York city, while the
democrats will direct the campaign from.
Washington with branch offices in Chi
cago and New York.
viii Take Up Statehood Bill.
The statehood bill will be taken up In
the House tomorrow under the protection
of a special rule, the adoption of which
will he the necessary step on the part of
the House TO get the bill into the hands
of a conference committee of the Senate
and House. Forty minutes debate will
be divided between the friends and oppo-
nents of the rule. when a vote will be
taken.
The special rule is declared to be the
only way the bill can be taken from the
speakers table. as otherwise 1t would
have to go to the committee on territor-
les because of the Senate making diff
ferent disposition O. certain government
property than was contemplated i'm the
House bill.
Thirty 'insurgent" republicans met in
Representative Babcock' S committee room
and agreed to stand together i'm oppos-
tion to Speaker Cannons plan to send the
statehood bill to conference.
The insurgents" say they favor send
ing the bill as amended by the Senate to
conference, but will not support any
rule designed to shut off debate and pre-
vent the House from instructing It's MEM
bers of the conference as to how to vote.
Representatives Babcock, Mondel and
other leaders in the "Insurgent faction
insist that the speakers plan will rail-
road the bill to the conference In such
way that the House members of the con-
ference must insist upon the bill practi-
eally as 1t was framed, and passed by the
House.