The sun., 1907-12-11
THE HOUSE COMBINE BUSTED
TAWNEY or MINNESOTA STOPS
THE HOGGTNG OF OFFICES

which ehe Republican Members From Few
States Have Been DOING since tho BAth
Congress Burton Of Ohio Caught Nap
ping ana . NEunnesOtan Gets q job.
WASHINGTON. Dec lO.--WhO killed tho
hog cOmbine?" ......
"Idid, said Big Jim Tawney Of Minnesota.
with my little confidence game in poll
tics-I killed the hog combine
That the famous combine which has
directed the organization of the House
OF Representatives since the Republicans
obtained control in the Fifty-fOurth Con-
gress IL dead. OF at least no longer the
dominant factor in majority Caucuses.
was demonstrated when Samuel Langum
Of Minnesota was nominated for Post
master OF the House over James II. Cassidy
OF Ohio. but the fact has hitherto escaped
public attention. IL is a matter Of consider
able importance. EOreshadowing as it does
the probability OF a general redistribution
of officers in the Sixty-first Congress. should
the Republicans obtain a maiority of that
body.
The "hog combine il is believed, was
the outcome Of plans originated by Repre-
sentative William A. Stone Of Pennsylvania,
since then Governor of that Commonwealth.
At any rate he acted as general manager
and all disputes affecting the distribution
OF patronage were referred to him for
settlement.
The combine had for its nucleus the del
egations from New York, Pennsylvania.
Ohio and Michigan--9O votes. Giving New
England the Speakership in the person of
Thomas B. Reed whom they could not de-
feat IL they had wanted toD, the votes OF
that section of the country were placed at
the disposal of the combine. Then to
these were added the votes Of Missouri.
which had experienced a political revolution
in 1894. For these Benjamin +. Russell
was made sergeant-at- The other
officers were divided as follows: Clerk,
Alexander Mcdowell of Pennsylvania; door
keeper, w. j. Glenn OF New York; post
master, Joseph c. MoElroy of Ohio; chap
lain, tho Rev. H. N. Couden Of Michigan.
In the Fifty-Rfth Congress Missouri
having fallen back into the slough Of De-
mOcracy Wisconsin took her place in the
combine, and Chairman Baboock Of the
Republican Congressional campaign COM
mittee was permitted to name Henry Casson
of his State as seFgeant-at-arms. With
this exception nothing but death had been
able TO break the combination on all offices
save speaker.
MIR. Glenn died March II. 1902. and his
assistant. Frank b. Lyon, succeeded him,
and has since held the office. When MIR.
McElroy died on August 2l last Mr. Tawney
thought he saw an opportunity to drive
the combine" out of business and secure
the office for a constituent OF his own. He
began an active canvass for support in
States outside of the combine. and when
he came TO Washington a few days before
the meeting of Congress had the place
cinched for his man.
MIR. Burton was busy with his mayoralty
campaign in Cleveland and paid no atten-
tion to the matter Of a successor to McEl-
row until after election day. Doubtless
he believed the combine was still in good
working order and depended cH il 10 make
a place for MIR. Cassidy, who would be out
Of his job as clerk of the Committee on
Rivers and HarbOrs by reason of his pat
ron's refusal to serve further as its chair
man. The Ohio delegation in the House was
loyal and sympathetic and voted tor Mr..
Cassidy the day after Burton's defeat for
Mayor.
stricken upon arrival in Washington to
attend the caucus :, and reproached Mr.
Tawney with using gS3urreptItious methods
to accomplish his purpose. That gentle
man told them that he had merely sought
support for his man outside the States
having candidates for Office in order mot
TO cOmplicate matters"
In searching for votes Mr.. Burton found
that Mr.. Tawney. as prospective chair
man OF the Committee on Appropriations
was a much more fascinating and attrac-
tive campaigner than himself. no longer
in charge of the pork barrel" Of river and
harbOr improvements. His favorite warble
now is the refrain:
The mill will never grind
With the water that Is past.
as he wonders who il was that de-
fined gratitude as -the lively expectation