The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-04-07
REPUBLICAN TRICK
BLOCKED IN HOUSE
Plan to Bolt Frustrated by
Representative Hep
burns Illness.
Join Democratic Filibuster
One Feature of the
Scheme.

The sudden Illness which overlook
Representative William P Hepburn last
week may have been responsible for the
failure of an effort 70 organize q Repub-
hcan detection from the standard Of
Speaker Cannon. which would have
turned the present House fIibuster into
a real revolt. and from that into a
revolution
It is now learned that a number OF
the House Republicans who have long
been dissatisfied with the rules and their
working. were at that time considering
seriously the proposition TO organize
undertake lead OF Mr.. Hepburn and bolt
the House management: in short. 70 al
" themselves with the Democrats. and
turn the Democratic minority into a
majority for the purpose Of carrying on
the hlibuster. OvertUrning the Speak
er's rule. and compelling the very things
for which the Democrats are nov
struggling hopelessly. because they are
only a minority.
Regarded as Leader.
Mr.. Hepburn was looked upon as tire
one insurgent Republican Of the ex-
perfence. abilities. and parliamentary
leadership that would have made him
an effective leader OF such a movement.
So far as known. no proposition was
actually put up 70 him before he was
taken III, bCt il is known positively
that had he been On the floor for two
days longer the matter would have been
laid before him and he would have
been asked 70 take command Of such
an effort.
The Democratic flibuster really has
q good deal OF sympathy on the Repub--
Iican side. despite that IL is not indi-
Gated by the roll calls The number
and determination OF the Republicans
who want the House rules changed
IS unquestionably increasing constant
y. The Democratic fHbuster was de-
signed 70 compel the Republicans 10
employ the utmost rigOrs OF their par
namentary code. in order TO accom-
pliSh their business thereby giving a
demonstration that under these rules
the majority can 90 business when
ever IL IS really in earnest ABOUT II
Armed With the record OF such a demon
stratiOn, the Democrats would be en-
abled effectively 10 arraign the Re
publicans. during the coming campaign.
for failure 10 pass the measures com
prised in the Presidents program
The passage OF the employers la
bility bill IS pointed 70 as demolstral-
ton Of the Democratic contention II
now the House viii not pass anti
Injunction legislation. the Democrats
Will 90 before the country and demand
to know why, ii The Republicans could
pass the liability Oil when they wanted
10 do so, they should Try 10 argue that
they wanted 70 pass other measures,
but were unabIe2
Revision of Rules.
Representative Hayes Of California
has been for q long time circulating a
paper for signatures Of members Of the
House. which looks 10 initiating a move
Cor revision OF the rules The general
idea Of revision now entertained IS &C.
make the Commute on Rules electiy
by the House, to Increase its member
ship. ana 10 impose on It the duty Of
making TIE committee Est Of the House
Il has been proposed by come that u
this should be added some scheme OF
geographical distribution Of members
OF this committee Thus RepreSentative
Norris OF Nebraska suggested 20 some
OF his colleagues an idea Ike this.
Make the Rules Committee say NJ
teen IL number give The majority nine
ana the minority six members Divide
the country into nine districts for the
selection Of the ma Oriey members, and
six for the selection OF the minority
members. Thea .le- the Republican
members Of the House from each dis
IrfCL name IN a caucus treir NON Der
Of the committee; and the Democrats
do the same. This would make the
committee really representative 7 am
not enc Of those who believe the Speak
er should not be a member o. the
House IT is probably correct but We
are not ready for Z vet We want
as much reform as We car get. not all
OF IL at once, Which We can't get