The Globe-republican., 1908-12-17
THE FIGHT BEGINS
REPUBLICAN HOUSE %NsuR.
GENTS" MEET AND oRGA.
NlZE FOR WORK.
WANT The RULES REVISED
Nothing Said at Meeting Against
Speaker Cannon-Committee Ap-
pointed to Draft Proposed
Amendments.

Washington, Dec. 13.-The fight for
4 revision or the rules Of the house
was inaugurated Friday night at q
meeting of the so-called insurgents"
attended by rs Republicans represen.
tative. Representative Hepburn of
Iowa presided and was authorized to
name committee of five, with him
self chairman, to draft the proposed
amendments to the rules and report
to the organization Tuesday night.
The insurgents" considered the
various suggestions for more than two
hours. Mr.. Hepburn said the various
plans proposed for changing the rules
would be considered by the commit
tee which he will name. lie desired
TO make 1t known that all of the men,
bers invited to the meeting, with the
exception of Representative Norris of
Nebraska, who is out of town, were
present.
Those interested have been pro-
ceeding quietly with their plans with
the apparent purpose Of increasing
their numbers sufficiently to be able to
control the situation by joining the
Democrats in fight on the rules. The
insurgents" claim that in the pres.
ent congress they need but n Repub-
licans to join the Democrats in order
to bring about change in the rules,
while In the Sixty-first congress they
say they will need but "a Republican
members. Three of the representa-
tives present Friday night-Hepburn,
Pollard and Ellis-will not be men,
bers of the next congress.
While several of the insurgents are
for Cannon for speaker, they made it
plain that they greatly desire change
in the rules. There were no express
sions except those of friendly feeling
for the speaker" said Mr.. Hepburn
after the meeting. Nobody said any
thing against Mr.. Cannon"
He said the general feeling was
that, if under the rules the house must
have despotic leader, there was no
one they would rather have than
Uncle Joe."
Several new suggestions, in addition
to those already advanced, were made
at the meeting. To increase the men,
bership Of the rules committee of the
house has been the most popular sug-
gestion and in this connection it has
been proposed to have this committee
elected by the members OF the house
instead Of being named by the speaker
The election in like manner of a
committee on committees to perform
duties similar to like body in the
senate, also has been proposed by lead
ers In the movement. Another plan
proposed is to set two Thursdays
apart each month for the consideration
of bills on the house calendar and the
remaining Thursday for the consider
alton of measures on the union calen-
dar.
None of those present would state
whether 1t was intended to bring the
matter to an issue in the present ses-
sion of congress or 10 wait for the
new congress.
Those present were Representatives
Hepburn and Hubbard, Iowa; Camp
bell, Madison, Murdock and Scott,
Townsend and Mclaughlin,
Michigan; Davis, Lindbergh and Vol
stead, Minnesota; Cooper, Nelson,
Esch and Morse, Wisconsin; Foster,
Vermont; Ellis, Missouri; Mckinley
and Hayes, California; Gardner and
Lohring, Massachusetts,; Pollard,
Hinshaw and Kinkaid, Nebraska.