Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-26

originally designed to, perform. Not only
was labor's request ignored, but the hos
tile makeup of the committee was accen-
tuated.
Hon. L. White Bushby is the private sec
rotary OF Speaker Cannon. In a magazine
article discussing the powers Of the speaker
Mr.. Bushby relates the circumstance of q
bill having been prepared and three-fourths
OF the members of the house having signed
a request to the speaker asking that the
rules committee, of which he is chairman,
bring In a special rule for the considera-
ton OF the bill. The speaker refused the
request. The chairman of the committee
pleaded and urged. Continuing, Mr.. Busby
"As a final stroke the chairman said:
Then. Mr.. Speaker, this bill is to fall by
the will of one man who Is in the chair
by our votes. We have no redress from
this one-man power Yes you have re-
piled the speaker; you have a way to pass
your bill. You placed me in the chair to
shoulder the responsibility of the legisla-
ton here enacted. In my view / cannot
assume the responsieility for this bill; You
your bill II you can find one who will ac-
cept that responsibility. but II you leave
me In the chair that bill will not become a
CannOn's Position.
The genial and accomplished speaker had
spoken for himself on this subject. In an
interview printed on August 20 in the st,
Ian newspaper, he points out the only
remedy left to the people other than that
Of the ballot box for the wrongs complained
OF. The interviewer said:
"Mr. Speaker, you are also called a czsr
and an element OF the public press holds
YOU up as the one all powerful influence
In the house who thwarts the will of the
people and arbitrarily decides what legisla-
ton shall be considered and passed in the
great popular branch of the national con-
Mr.. Cannon replied as follows: Under
the constitution of the United states the
house of representatives organizes itself
and QnV m m hnr ff tho hnnaa of anu n a Ffy
or no party. on any day. at any time, can
halt any business before the house and as
a question OF highest privilege offer a res
olution and secure a vote on it to d.Splace
the speaker OF the, house of representatives
and put some other member in his place"
In other words. the remedy is 10 dis
grace and destroy one of the highest Of
ficers In the government-to cast him fig
uratively from a political Tarpean rock,
to be erected by the members, with his
consent, for that purpose.
l have suggested the other way by which
the American voters can regain their right
to self-goyernment and that is by the as
sertion Of their manhood on election day
by rebuking with their ballots the party
which has brought about such an intoler-
able condition.
Time forbids the multiplication of in
stances where the popular will has been
defied by the real republican leadership
sometimes by the one-man power Of the
house and sometimes by the few repre-.
sentetlves OF monopoly who dominate the
senate. Measure after NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
them-IaVored oy the people OF ali parties
In many instances advocated strenuously
by the president, either failed OF passage,
or were so emasculated by amendments as
TO utterly fail to register the popular will.
The question, Shall the people. rule p
Is one which demands the serious and
earnest consideration of all men who are
interested In the perpetuation Of our insti-
buttons. 1t must be apparent to all who
have followed the course of legislation dur
Ing the last few years that there is q
power within the republican party deter
Ina that thu nAAA1A ahal HAN auulA Nh ~
power has manifested itself whenever eff
fort has been made TO check the destruc-
tive work Of aw ful combination, reduce
the oppressive tariff tax, or enact any
legislation looking towards the equaliza-
tfon OF Tightening, OF the burdens resting
upon the people.