Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-11-28
MAY ATTEMPT
TO GUST CANNON
President-Elect TO Use His Infu
Against Speakers Reelection.
IN ORDER TO BENEFIT
PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION
Cannon Known to be Too Much Of a
"stand-Patter' to Expect very
Much Tariff Legislation in the
House-Prospects Of a Very Warm
Time.


Time.
Washington, Nov. 25.-There is
very grave concern among republican
party leaders over the possibility that
President-elect TAFT may feel called
upon to use his influence in an at
tempt to prevent the reelection of
Joseph G. Cannon as speaker of the
house. That such an attempt woulI
be highly injurious to the party is
conceded without question. Yet there
are those close in the confidence OF
the president-elect who believe it
would be much more injurious not to
make the attempt.
The unopposed reelection of Can
non means, in the judgment Of those
who are advising Mr. Taft to oppose
him, that it will be impossible for the
new administration to secure any sub
stantial progressive legislation at the
hands of congress; means that the
proposed revision of the tariff will not
be such as to satiTfy the country,
that other remedial measures to
which the president-elect is pledged
will be smothered in committee or
passed in emasculated form. A
successful fight against Cannon might
make possible the passage of meas
ures that otherwise would fail but it
would leave in the house sullen and
revengeful republican minority which
would lose no opportunity to en-
barrass the administration. An I'M
successful fight against the speaker
would leave the new administration
at it's very beginning hopelessly dis
credited and impotent to redeem any
oflthe pledges for remedial legislation
made by Mr.. Taft. "rvtA
The president-elect IS at the part
ing of the ways, and has got to de-
eide which road he will travel. None
of them promises a pleasant journey.
Two weeks ago republicans were con-
graduating themselves that the new
administration was to begin under
such suspicious circumstances, the
president-elect having the confidence
OF he country and, it was believed,
assured of the loyal and harmonious
support of his party's eaders in con-
gress. There was talk even then that
it might become necessary for Mr..
Taft to oppose the election of Cannon,
but the talk was not taken seriously
The president-elect continued to smile
and it seemed that all the political
skies smiled with him.
But the germ of trouble already
was on the job, getting in his deadly
work. Interviews given out by lead
ing house republicans, Cannon's lieu
tenants, did not indicate hey had IN
mind such a revision of the tariff as
Mr.. Taft believed the republican par
ty had promised. This was discour-
aging, but not necessarily alarming
There remained the possibility that
these former stani-patters might be
made to see the error OF their way
But here entered new element, an
unthought of one, one with which
there seemed no way to cope. FROM
the tone Of editorial utterances in
republican and independent news
papers throughout the country and
from reports carried personally and
by mail to Mr.. Taft at Hot Springs
it began to grow apparent that the
country was DING be suspicious
of and dissatisfied with any tariff bill
passed under the auspices of Speaker
Cannon, Serene f. Payne, John Dai-
zen and other powers that be in tne
house Of representatives, in coopera'
ton with Aldrich, Hale and other
"reactionaries" in the senate.
Il