Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1908-09-11

man bring in u special rule for the rom
sideration of the bill. The speaker re-
fused the request. The chairman of
the committee pleaded and urged.
Continuing, Mr.. Busby says:
Ass final stroke the chairman said:
Then. Mr.. Speaker, this hill is to
fall 10y the will of one man who is in
the chair ly Urr votes. We have no
redress from this one-man power.
Yes. you have, replied the speaker
'Iou have a way to pass your bill. You
placed me in the chair to shoulder the
responsibility of the Legislation here
enacted. In my view can not assume
the responsibility for this bill. YCu
can elect II new speaker today. and pass
your bill, if you Il find II who will
accept that responsibility, but if you
leave me in the chair that bill will not
become i law
The genial and accomplished speaker
has spoken for himself on this subject.
In an interview printed on August 20 in
the St. Louis Globe Democrat, Il stall
wart republican newspaper, he points
out the only remedy left To the people,
other than that of the ballot box for
the WRONGS complained of. The inter
view said: ,..'
MIR. Speaker, you are also called Il
Car. and an element of the public
press holds you up rs the one AL pow.
erful influence i'll tho house who
thwarts the will of the people and ar.
bitrarily decides what legislation shall
be considered and passed in the. great
popular branch Of the national con
greSS."
Mr.. Cannon replied rs follows:
Under the constitution of the
United States, the house of representa-
tives organizes itself, and any member
of the house, of any party or no party,
on any day, ut any time, al halt any
business before the house, and rs a
question of highest privilege offer \
resolution and secure IL vote ON it to
displace the speaker of the house OF
representatives, and put some other
member in his place"
In other words, the remedy is to dis.
grace and destroy of the highest
officers in the gOvcrnment-tr cast him
fignrativcly from the political T'arpcian
rock, To he erected by the members
with his consent, for that purpose.
l have suggested the other way hy
which the American voters can regain
their rights of self government, and
that is 10y the assertion Of their man,
hood on election day, by rebukins with
their ballots the party which has
brought about such an intolcrablc con-
dition.
Time foriidS the multiplication of
instances where the popular will has
been dciicd and set at naught by the
real republican cadcrship-somctimcs
by the onc-man power of tine house and
sometimes by the few representatives of
monopoly who dominate the senate.
Measure after Observation-Disclosures of
thcm-favorcd by the people of al
partics-in many instances advocated
. renuously by the president. either
failed of passage, or were 50 cmasCu,
lated by amendment as to utterly fail
to register the popular will.
The question, Shall the people rulcy'
is m which demands the serious and
earnest consideration of all men who
are interested i'll the pcrpetuity Of ON
institutions. Ii must he apparent TO all
who have followed the course of lcgisla
ton during the past few years that
there is power within the republican
party determined that the people shall
not rule. That power has manifested
itself whenever effort has been made t.
check the destructive work of unlawful
combinations, reduce the oppressive
tariff tax, or enact any Legislation look
ing towards the equalization or tighten.
ing of the burdens resting upon the
people.
That dominant power which 10
guides and directs the republican party,
has on many occasions dcficd the prcsi.
dent in cases where he has. on the
demand Of the masses. made sporadic
efforts in their behalf. In some III.
stances he has persuaded this handful
of leaders to compromise. on their own
terms. with the eighty millions of
people whom he assumed to represent.
but in most cases he has been absolutely
powcrlcss.
That dominant leadership elects the
speaker Of the house. names the com.
mittccs Of the senate. and Is in full
charge of the ingenious machinery pro-
vidcd for the protection of c%ntrcnclIcd
monopoly against the demands of the
people.
1t dictated the platform adopted by
that party in its national convention
this year, apQaftcr dcfying Mr.. Roosc.
welt for three and a half years, and kill.
ing, or crippling nearly all his proposed
reform legislation. and having received
his unstiiitcd dcnnnciation therefor.
proceeded with the finest irony TO EN-.
dOrsc his administration. after which it
dictated II committee to take charge Of
the campaign. and is now in full coin.