Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-11-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
fFrom our Regular CORES pond ent)
Washington. D. c.. Nov. 16 In
dications of that sweet harmony which
prevails In the Repu blican party when
ever the subject of the tariff is under
consideration are manifest and Speak
or Cannon has already given evidence
of his determination to thwart the
desire of the President and of Secre-
tary Taft to have the Dingley tariff
revised at special session lmmedf-
ately following the next presidential
inauguration. representative Burton
of Ohio has avowed his allegiance to
the tariff revision programme. Re-
preventative Grosvenor of Ohio, was.
1t will, be remembered. defeated In his
race for reelection and this leaves an
Ohio vacancy on the Ways and Means
Committee, that committee which
will have to report revised tariff bill
or take the responsibility of refusing
to do so. Mr.. Burton. feeling himself
entitled to General GrOsvenor 3 former
seat has announced his intention OF
resigning the chairmanship of the
Rivers and Harbors Committee which
he has killed for years with notable
ability, in order that he might be APP
pointed on Ways aud Means. Now
Speaker Cannon, in an arbitrary de
cree which exceeds anything ever at =
tempted iby the late Scar Read. !"
has caused to be made public first that
Mr.. Burton cannot resign until be is
appointed with the new committees Of
the coming Congress and that If be
then persists In resigning. the Speaker
will submit to the House the question,
''Shall Mr.. Burton OF Ohio be relieved
from all further duty on the commit
tees Of the House?" In other words,
unless Mr.. Burton does precisely as he
Is told by the Speaker, serves as chair
man of Rivers and HarbOrs and ceases
his efforts to get on Ways and Means,
he will be deprived of all his commit
tees assignments.
Mr.. Cannon is first of all things a
"stand patter" and he is wholly I'M
willing to permit a revisionist to go
upon this important committee. In
cidentaliv, too, Mr.. Cannon fondly
cherishes the illusion that be is a pre-
sidential possibility and he regards a
blow at Mr.. Burton as a body blow at
MIR. Taft, who is conceded to be the
most likely of the Republican presi-
Dental possibilities. How good it is
for bretheren to dwell together In har.
mOny."
There are many Indications that the
all powerful influence exerted by the
Speaker is to be prostituted to the
promotion of what he fooIisbly re-
CARDS as his presidential chances. For
instance, Representative Fordnew of
Michigan, who is most anxious to Sc
cure seat on Ways and Means. has
already held his district convention and
elected two delegates to the national
convention and instructed them to
cast their votes for Mr.. Cannon.
Having been held before the call of the
National Committee the convention
was doubtless illegal but that will
probably interfere in no way with the
Speakers gratitude and Mr.. Fordney's
ambition. A neat sign on the door of
the Speaker 8 room reading, "All mem
bers who inspire to good comm Ittee
assignments must first See that their
district delegates to the next national
convention are instructed to vote for
Joseph &. Cannon for President" would
be most appropriate as it would port
ray the motives which are contr olling
Mr.. Cannon in making up bis slate of
com mittees for the new Congress-.
Representatives Swager Snerl ey of
Kentucky has come to Washington to
frame up, with some of his colleagues
certain amendments to the House
rules which II adopted would check
mate the prostitution of bis autocra tic
powers of which Speaker Cannon
In guilty, but unfortunately, Mr..
Sherley's efforts are not destined to
amount to anything more than a
creditable Democratic protest against
the existing conditions. Every man
who votes for any curtailment OF Mr..
Cannon's power knows full we'll that
the vindictiYe resentment of the
Speaker will follow him throughout
the Congress and that be will bs in
jured in the eyes of his constitu ents
in every way that the Speakers ON.
nipotent power will make possible.
Truly Mr.. Sherley deserves credit for
bis courage.
Democrats In Washington are much
gratified over the positive declaration
Of Mr.. Bryan on the subject OF his at
titude toward the Democratic Presi-
Dental nomination of 1908, and they
are all heartily in sympathy with the
sentiment he sc aptly expresses when
be eaYs: ut only remains for the
Democratic party to convince the
voters that 1t can be entr usted with
the work Of reform. and nothing will
dn moro to convince the public than
refusal to negotiate with predatory
wealth and an honest appeal by honest