Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-02
RULES Nh B REVISED
progr 'ssiye Ehment in House
Sure to Gai1 ls'ictory irho
''''.. ;.,.''''
4epevRrs Lss is FELT
Eighth O'.tr'et CO srs..m.n 4.. Led
Battle for Reform IN Rules for Many
Years am is Forced to Retire when
Victory is Possib'e-No Business un.
til QUESTION is Disposed OF.
Especial correspondence)

three days. Serious attention was
turned to this means of reforming the
house by the declaration of Repre-.
sentative Gardner Of Massachusetts
that people who favor reform ought to
refuse to caucus on rules.
one mans defeat in the recent cleo
ton has cost the reformers dearly.
Representative Hepburn OF Iowa Is
chairman Of the republican house eau
Gus and would undoubtedly have been
re- elected at the opening of the new
congress. Mr.. Hepburn has long been
determined opponent of the ,present
rules. He never liked them, and he
has fought them in season and out
Not in many years has he allowed the
biennial CAUCUS for organization of the
house to pass without making his
hopeless fight; and year by year his
protest has gained in backing of sent
iment. even tho many of those who
really sympathized with it were too
timid to vote with the directors.
Just at the time when victory
seemed possible, Hepburn has been
beaten atsthe polls, and the insurgents
are confrpnted with the misfortune of
losing a. presiding officer, in the
caucus. who could be relied upon to
give their cause every possible encour-
agement that could be extended from
the chair Mr.. Hepburn doesn't be-
lieye in czar in the house, but as
presiding OFFICER of caucts he is as
willing al anybody to fight the devil
with fire. 1.-THE insurgents chances in
a caucus Would be vastly better with
Mr.. Hepburn as head of the organiza-
ton.
Contsst For Hepburn's Place.
Not only will the insurgents lose
Hepburn, but they are confronted with
the certainty that the Cannon forces
will make their first fight to elect, in
his place, ssome member fully in SYM
pathy with the present regime. James
r. Mann, of Illinois, and Henry G.
Loudenslager of New Jersey, both
veteran members of the Cannon or
ganization, hive been Discussed in this
connection. Mr.. Mann especially Is
looked upon as likely to be put for
ward by the speakers friends. He has
in a fashion had chage of the Can
non campaig: for reelection to the
chair, and in he NATURAL course would
be in line forhead Of the caucus He
is an excellet parlimentarian and a
man of the ecessary force to handle
the gavel tru what seems likely to
be a series tistormy sessions.
Fiat 1t Out EARLY.
prominer western house member,
himself mentned in all the discus
sions of spesership possibilities, re-
Gently declam his expectation that
when the spial session of congress
meets March Is or Whereabouts, 1t 1s
quite liable spend a month making
an organizatie. This member is him
self in recet of letters from more
than thirty nmbers, suggesting that
he become a .ndidate for speaker. HE
is not annou.ed as candidate. nut
it will be no .rprise If he shall short
Nv be broughforward as an aspirant
He has a an of campaign. which
aims rather It reform of the rules
than at defes of the speaker put the
latter exigent has also had CONSIDER
alton in framg this plan.
This insur;nt proposes that in adj
vance of the epublican caucus the re-
formers draN up statement OF tnelf
demands as O changes in the rules,
and sign. a aatement setting forth IN
such generaterms as it may be pos
sible for the to agree upon, the SUD
stance Of tlir demands. This signed
paper shoultbe served on the caucus
when it shdd be called to order. 1t
would set fth in substance that 1ile
signers demaded changes In the rules'
and that, beig convinced that, the ma
jority OF tliehouse favored them. put
that the m.ority in the republican
caucus woul oppose, therefore the
signers declied to be bound py the
caucus. Theywould ask instead fof !.
conference, uich they might attend
with the ,lisnct understanding that
they were no to be bound by any &C
tion taken. this conference '!nsy
would desire ,nsideration OF the WE e
question of t. rules, with the vie 20
determining the republicans cedld
not reach a asis of adjustment, ana
make the ref.m party measure. But
they would so make clear tnat' IN
less such arrangement could be mAde.
they would rt enter the caucus, ana
would reserv the right to act 1lide-
pendently onthe floor of the mouse
when it shod meet at the constl 'I'l
tional time f. the purpose OF orean-
ization.
DemocratsMay Join Insurgents.
The republhn majority in the mouse
being about fly, it would be neces-
sary to keep ess than thirty repupll-
cans out Of he caucus, =. order 10
make it's actin nugatory. There Is no
loubt, from IL information thus lai
AVAILABLE, of he willingness OF we
democrats to- mite with the disafected
republicans inforcing rule reform.
Three week: ago men who talked 81
.hus boiling he caucus were looheu
Upon as extremists, and held up as
enemies of patty discipline. But tou%y
he situation changed, THANKS ~ 'r
determined inerest Of Pres1deilt-h'es.
Taft. There not only discussion or
,olting the cacus on rules, ana Ior-
ng the consideration OF rules oe1o|e
speaker shallbe nominated, but thef
$ even talk ofmaking an effort 10
ect alliance With the democrats IF
he purpose ofklecting a new-idea RI
publican. This However is regarded