The Washington herald., 1907-01-13

/ After the collapse yesterday Of the
movement to elect Representative Champ
/ Clark. of Missouri as minority leader in
the next Congress. following the expected
lstatoment from Mr. Clark that he was
not candidate. the anti-Williams Demo
Gratis In the House got together infor-
mally TO discuss plans for the future.
They professed 10 be greatly surprised
at AIr. Clark's statement but accepted IL
at its face value, and talked of other men
who in their opinion might have chance
to defeat Mr.. Williams
/ One Of the men whose name has been
mentioned as a possible opponent of the
! Mississippian is Representative A. $.
Burleson. Of Texas. In an interview given
/ "a representative OF The Washington Her
aid. last night. Mr.. Burleson said be was
not. and would not be. a candidate, and
/ that he desired the reelection Of Mr.
/ williams as leader in the Sixtieth Con-
gross, and as Speaker In the Sixty-6rst
( Congress. in the event that the Democrats
have "a majority in the House then
| Without reference to Mr.. Williams. the
/ Texan suggested the abolition of the posi-
ton Of leader. and the selection of an ad-
vislry committee Of five to act for the
minority Furthermore. he severely criti-
cised the present House rules. and out
lined q plan for the election Of "a com
uittee 0a rules. 10 be clothed with au-
thority 20 appoint the other committees.
/ and providing for the consideration Of any
bin which as many as % or - per cent
/ of the members might wish tO have taken
Iup. In other words DE would make the
Speaker only a presiding officer, as in the
( British Parliament. The reform Is bound
/ 10 come. Mr. Burleson said.
I am not a candidate for the position
Of minority leader against Mr. Williams.
and / viii not be candidate against him
under any circumstances. said Mr.
Burlesou. when asked for "a atatement-
/ Mr.. Williams certainly should be. and,
+ in my opinion. assuredly viii be. selected
10 succeed himself as leader ia the Six
\ tleth Congress. Furthermore, IN the event
+ that the Democrats secure control Of the
/ House next year. Mt Williams certainly
should be elected speaker IN the Sixty
/ first Congress. You cannot state my po-
slti0n on that point too strongly
Leadership Duties Onerous.
! Questions put to Mr.. Burleson on other
phases of the situation elected some
very interesting statements The leader
ship Of the minority is in many respects
la thaukless task" ne said. 1t carries
with il grave responsibilities, and there
Iare constantly a multitude of vexations
and annoyances pressing upon the man
who holds it. Frequently petty envy and
disappointed aspirations hide behind a
pretended desire 10 further the party in
terests and make attacks upon the posi-
tiou taken by the leader Sometimes
these assaults are measurably successful,
land apparently indicate party discords,
when i'm truth the only disturbing ele-
Iments i'm the party are the individuals
who are doing the mouthing."
What IS your solution Of the prob
ileme" was asked.
Personally said Mr.. Burleson. II do
not favor the plan of having a minority
leader I think it would be wiser and
would tend 20 bring about better results
if we had an advisory committee Of five,
to be elected by the caucus. which would
lhave charge Of the direction Of party af-
/ fairs on the floor Of the House II this
were done there would be a divided re-
/ sponsibintv, and il would not entail such
onerous labors upon any one man 1t is
known to us all that last year Mr.. VIII
Iams. in the language of Mr. Gaines,
! wore himself TO a fraZzle in his efforts
constantly TO keep before the country the
position Of the Democratic party on the
various questions that were brought be-
fore Congress
1t is true-and I know whereof I
/ speak-that Mr. Williams frequently made
efforts 10 induce others to share his bur-
den: but we all knOw-and it is natural
/ that one would not be inclined to act in
such a role unless his party colleagues
had selected him. If the plan of proyld-
ling an advisory committee We're adopted.
and a more frequent assembling Of the
icaucus were had. l feel sure it would ma-
/ teriaIly enhance the chances OF party
/ success.
But that is another story. II Mir.
/ Williams is before the Democratic eau
/ Gus I'm the next Congress for the minority
! leadership he undoubtedly will be Sc
I lected and properly so. He has earned
the place by his splendid labors on be-
/ half of the party in this Congress. and
ne deserves It because he is in every
sense worthy of 1t.
ReErettabIe from Party Standpoint.
It regret that minority members
should now bc engaged in an effort to
tear down the party spokesman of their
own selection" said Mr.. Burleson, when
/ asked his opinion as 10 the effect OF the
developments of the last two days. by
/ their actions" he continued. they are
dlscrediting Mr. Williams leadership in
stead OF standing with him in the effort
which ] am sure he will undertake, IL
continued in his present position, TO raise
the House Of Representatives from the
debased position which. in the opinion Of
all intelligent and thinking men. it at
/ present occupies. Every wel-informed
member Of the House knows what I
mean when / say this. The Speaker.
under the development of the present
rules. has become the absolute master of
/ the House In fact. only his will is re-
I fected through its legislative proceedings.
/ This condition has become intolerable
/ to many, and undoubtedly there is a
/ CONTINUED on TWELFTH PACE