Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-09

legislative hands OF the member,
places a gag upon MS tongue, anu
clamps upon his Dram for ali Ine pur-
poses OF vital Legislation III the INFER
ests OF the people. He is helpless 10
initiate laws, he is helpless 70 dellD-
craze upon laws, and ne VIII have only
d quanned right 70 vote, which vote
a caucus WIN at times attempt TO
control.
President VS.. Speaker.
MIR. Chairman, we are now to en-
ter Il presidential campaign. There
VIII be a preliminary contest 10 de-
termlne VINO shall be the standard
bearer OF the democratic party, II 1t
is not already settled; there Will be
q preliminary contest 10 determine
VINO shall be the standard bearer OF
the republican party. Then these TWO
nominees VIII engage III a tremen-
dous contest Tor the eIecIloh'
Speeches VIII be made by the mIIe'
campaign literature will be dlstrIbu-
ted by the ton, editorials VIII nood
the country, millions Will be spent
business will be demoralized, and the
peopIe will be excited. What Is IL ali
Tor? 70 elect a president. For what
purpose? To make appointments! 10
organize the army, the navy, or othef
departments OF the government!
These are organized now from the
bottom of the top. What is II all Ior
1t clearly appears from the platform
declarations and from the speeches
that it is to continue or change poll
jcies OF government. That means
legislation. The president OF the
United States will send his message
10 the congress, as he is directed 10
do by the constitution. He will tell the
congress the needs of the country
But it will be in the power OF lew,
ia the power of one, intrenched III
the forms and usages, to use the
language Of Speaker Reed, TO deIy'
TO ignore and defeat these recon-
mendationS.
Roosevelt Lemon Crop.
Mr.. Chairman, l wish to say to my
republican telloWmembers who be-
lieye in the Roosevelt policies, let us
look to the rules OF the house. Presi-
dent Roosevelt has been trying to cul
tiyate oranges for many years III the
frigid climate Of the committee Oh
rules, but what has he gotten but the
uroyerbial lemons?
Look to the Rules.
| wish to say TO my republican fel
low members who believe that Secre
tary Taft Is the proper man TO carry
out The Roosevelt policies, look to
the rules of the house.
| wish to say to my republican tel
low members who belief that Cover
nor hughes is the logical successor
TO the president To carry on the pro
gressiye movement, look to the rules
OF the house.
| wish TO say to my republican Tel
low members who believe that Sena-
tor La Toilette, because OF his con
structiYe craftsmanship as governor
of Wisconsin and because OF his legls-
latiye achievements as United States
senator, is the rightful standard
bearer of the millions of American
citizens who believe in the reform
movement, look to the rules OF the
house.
A Fundamental Reform.
Mr.. Chairman, the policies adVo-
Gated by the president are indeed OIL
vast Importance to the American peo-
pie, but the most important, the
most pressing, the most agon zlng
need OF the country today is not one
of these policies, but parliamentary
reform in the house. 1t is fundament
al; it is a condition precedent to the
passage in this house OF all popular
reforms. We must give them the
right of way. We must remove the
barriers, the distractions that have
been placed IN this house by the rules,
lest the great reform measures De-
fore the country be Knocking knock
ing, knocking at the doors OF congress-
and there be little or no response Tor
years to come.
A Fundamental Reform.
The messages of the president are
important, because they emphasize
the needs Of the country III a VlgoT-
Gus, energetic, and patriotic manner
for which Theodore Roosevelt is Ia
nous, but, submit, in conclusion
that the greatest good the message
will do for the country is to direct
the nations attention to the immedi-
ate Importance of parliamentary re-
form in the house.
A Fight For Freedom.
Speaker Cannon may not become
president. History is against 1t. only
one speaker of the house was ever
chosen president of the United States.
Speaker Clay tried and failed; SPEAK
er Blaine tried and failed; Speaker
Reed tried and failed. The people 90
not choose for this high office men
who love arbitrary power. Yet the
speaker has a great opportunity be-
NO rpinpTAntlY,