The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-21
.INsURGENTS DECLARE
. STATEHOOD IS BEATEN
Claim Enough Strength TO Strike
Out Arizona and New
Mexico. 7
BY w. w. Jermane.

Washington, Jan. 20.-The statehood
insurgents held another conference late
today, counted noses, and reported that
they expected to have enough strength
to defeat the house organization on
Wednesday by amending the rule for
the consideration of the joint statehood
bill.
If successful, they will strike Arizona
and New Mexico from the bill, leaving
only Oklahoma and Indian Territory.
AS the fight stands, it is one of the
prettiest in congress for years, and one
of the closest. Both sides admit this
closeness, and it is doubtful if either
expects to win. by wider margin than
half dozen votes.
In passing, it should be said that the
fight, SO far as republican members are
concerned, contains nothing of animus
against the president. Any hope on the
part of anti-railroad interests that it
| would do so has utterly failed Of reah-
zation. zss.
AS Explained by Marshall.
Representative Marshall of North
Dakota, who has been very active in
the insurgent camp, reflected insurgent
opinion on this point when he said to
T b e Journal tonight e-a5 49,
.A2"We are all fond of the president,
and are sorry we cannot support this
bill, which he has recommended. We
oppose it on principle, however, and the
president s personality does not enter
| into the case at all. i u, .-.rs
81 take this attitude. Of opposition
with reluctance, because Of my personal
relations to the president, and I know
in saying this I speak for practically
all of my associates. - r -! F..
The insurgents include the: solid
democratic membership, with John
Sharp Williams, its head. The demo
cratic leader will be prominent: in the
debate. -- --
On the republican side, the insurgent
leader is Representative Babcock of
Wisconsin. AS lieutenants there are
Representatives Adams, Miner, and
Brown of Wisconsin, Goebel of Ohio,
Mondell of Wyoming, Marshall of North
Dakota. The California and Washing
ton delegations are solidly against the
joint statehood bill. - -
It is reported that Representatives
Davis, Bede, and Stevenson of, Mime
sofa: are, insurgents, and alsoi Repre-.
sentative .Gronna of North Dakota.
Speaker Cannon today. sent for both
Gronna and Stevenson, and tried to
convert them. What success he had is
not known
5 The insurgents have on their lists
{ more than enough members to win the
5 fight, but it is the history of these
81 movements that at the last moment
: some of the insurgents find themselves
D too weak to stand fire. That. may be
o the, case now, and if it is in any large
way, the administration will win. But
t it is anybody's fight as it now stands.
e The Administration Forces
q On the administration side of the
, debate next week will be all the house
n leaders, with Representative Hamilton
OF Michigan, chairman of the terri
e tories committee, at their head. H
e has this prominence because the bill
f comes from his committee. - a..
f Speeches in favor of the Joint state
|. hood plan will be made by Represent
atives Payne, Dalzell, Grosvenor, Wat
son, Hepburn, Hamilton, Hull, Lacey
Sherman and others. These men ar,
s. nearly all chairmen~ of big house com
v mittees, in which position they form
i what is practically the speaker cab
met. They are part of the hous,
h organization which the insurgents ar,
trying to throw over.
/, 1t is at this point that Representa-
). tive Tawney of Minnesota, chairman
e of the appropriations committee, find
his position little embarrassing. HI
t is with the insurgents on principle
!. believing the joint statehood bill Il
e be a bad measure, but he will be com
RI PEELED to stand by the organization
), and vote for the bill on nnal passage
v He will also vote for the rule for it
d consideration. OF course, Mr. Tawne,
# can do nothing else, and the insurgents
;, understanding his position, have con
- siderately let him alone -.-.