The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-12-04
LOOK FOR A SCRAP
There'II Be a Battle On Rules In
Lower House Congress.
INSURGENTS ARE ORGANIZING
Younger Members Of the Lawmaking
Body Hope for Greater Consid-
erection; Better Jobs.

Washington, Dec. None but
political alarmists still seem to believe
that an out -and-out attempt is to be
made to defeat Mr.. Cannon for re-
election to the speakership. The real
trouble in the house of representa-
tves, if trouble is to come, will be
over the rules committee. Much has
been written about this within a
few days, and, though skeptics have
been many, it seems probable that
unless compromise is effected some
thing besides prayer will mark the
opening of the first session of the
sixty first congress-
An insurgent band will be ready to
begin planning for operations against
the citadel of the rules committee be-
fore the present week closes. The
plans cannot be carried into effect
before, March, and between now and
then there is time for either side to
surrender, or for both sides to meet
under flag of truce and arrange
terms.
Reference should be- made to the
statement by Representative Tawney
of Minnesota few days ago, just
after he had paid visit to the
White House. 1t is not at all likely,
however, that Mr.. Roosevelt gave MIR.
Tawney the inspiration for what he
said, for probably the president be-
lieves the rules committee as at pres
ent chosen is baleful thing. Mr..
Tawney said that if any man had
influence enough to win election as
speaker of the house he had influence
to secure committee on rules to do
his liking.
The Minnesota representative went
OH to discuss the proposed enlarge
| ment of the rules committee. He said
that if the speakers influence was
paramount it would make little diff
ference whether there was a big five"
! in control or ''big seven," or even
IL big nine" There is truth and
perhaps wisdom in what Mr.. Tawney
| had to say, but his word was spoken
OH the supposition that the committee
| would still be chosen by the ma ority
party members in caucus. The party
men who are clamorous for Il change
| in the committee desire that the
| house itself name the members.
When the rules committee brings In
rule it may be too drastic Ill its
provisions even for some of the party
men who believe in fairly strict or
ganization and discipline. With an
enlarged committee, representing near
ly every shade of republican opinion
administration and anti administra-
ton, if you wll-the younger and
more aggressive members of the house
believe that they will receive greater
constellation and will not be obliged
so often to vote for party's sake
against their conscences, or at least
will not be obliged SO to vote without
ii full opportunity to express their
real feeling on the matter at issue.
Half a dozen members of the house
have been named as leaders of a re
volt against the old method of choos-
ing the committee and against its
small numerical representation. Re
preventative Townsend of Michigan is
expected in Washington soon. Repre-
\ sentative Murdoch of Kansas, with
Townsend. is an opponent OF the
present system of committee regula-
ton Then there are Mr.. Gardner of
| Massachusetts,, son law of Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge; Representative
Fowler of New Jersey and one or two
others who have been placed at the
head of the ''insurgent" list.