The Washington times., 1908-11-30
Colonel Pete" Is Chairman
Of the Caueus and Is
Against the Rules.
URGE HIM TO FIGHT
ELECTION RESULT
Whole Struggle Against Present
Regime May Turn on Outcome
of Iowa Contest.
By 7. c. WELLIVER.

j - ~ $500 -
Sparring for openings in the begin
nings of the fight for and against the
present management and rules Of the
House of Representatives, 'he leaders
have discovered that everything may
turn on the succession to William Pc
tiers Hepburn. chairman of the Repub-
lican caucus
Hepburn has been beaten for Te-elec-
ton, on the face Of the returns. He
is the most devoted enamy of the pres
ent rules. As caucus chairman he would
be a tower of strength to the cause Of
reform.
The result in the Hepburn district was
exceedingly close. Colonel Hepburn's
friends both at home and in Washington
are urging him TO contest. The leaders
OF Insurgency here are getting espe-
CialIy concerned. for they want him to
preside over the caucuses in which the
stormy issue of the rules, and perhaps
The Speakership. viii be fought out
1t is not too much to- say that the
tszdars of the present regime would pos
ssas their sorrowtuI souls with COM
mendabie patience if they should learn
that in the next House they would be
bereft of the society of Colonel Pete"
They know several people who. as eau
Gus chairman, would serve their pur-
pose better.
Hepburn Against Rules.
1ir. Hepburn has long been a deter
mined opponent Of the present rules.
He never liked them, and he has fought
them in season and out. Not in many
years has he allowed the biennial eau
GUS for organization Of the House TO
pass without making his hopeless hghts
and year by year his protest has gained
+ in backing of sentiment, even though
. many of those who really sympathized
. with il were too timid to vote with the
Collectors
f Just at the time when victory seemed
possible, Hepburn has been beaten at
.he polls, and the insurgents are con-
Uouted with the misfortune of losing a
residing officer. in the caucus. who
build be relied upon to give their cause
every POSSIBLE announcement that
3uld be extended from the chair. Mr..
hepburn doesn't believe in a ear in the
House, Tut as presiding officer of
C.ucus he is as willing as anybody to
right the devil with fire. The insurg-
aus' chances in 3D. caucus would be vast
j. better with M Hepburn as head OF
ne organization.
May DC N4dUus
Not only viii the insurgents lose
Hepburn. but they are confronted with
t.e certainty that the Cannon forces
siu make their first fight TO elect, IA
Us place, some member fully in SYM
ulhy with the present regime. James
j Mann, of Illinois, and Henry g.
zoudeEsIaEer. of New Jersey, bo,a vet
Iau members OF the Cannon OTganiza-
ion. have been discussed in this con-
lection. Mr. Mann especially is looked
Apou as likely to be put forward by the
Speakers friends. He has. in a fashion.
had charge of the Cannon campaign for
reelection TO the chair, and in the nat
.uriI course would be in line for head
.3f the caucus. lie is an excellent par
Humanitarian, and a man Of she neCes-
'sary force to handle the gaveI through
what seems likely TO be d series Of
stormy sessions.
A prominent Western House member,
himself mentioned in all the discussions
|of Speakership possibilities, re Gently de-
|clared his expectation that when the
special session of Congress meets March
Us, or whereabouts, il is quite liable
.to spend month making an organiza-
|tiOn.
Want Him to Run.
This member is himself In receipt Of
letters from more than thirty members,
Suggesting that he become IL candidate
for Speaker. He is not announced as
"a candidate but it Will be no surprise
IL he shall shortly be brought forward
as an aspirant- He has d plan os COM
paign which aims rather ut reform of
The rules than at defeat of the Speaker;
but the latter eEigency also has had
consideration il framing this plan.
This lnsurgent proposes that in adj
vance OF the Republican caucus the re-
formers draw up a statement of their
demands as TO changes ia the rules. and
sign statement setting forth IN such
general terms as ii may DO possible for
Inem 20 agree uponi the substance Of
their demands. This signed paper should
be served on the caucus when il should
be called To order IL would set forth
5n substance that the signers demanded
changes ia the rules, and that, being
convinced that the majority OF the
House Favored them. but that the ma
Jorlly III me Eepuuilcan caucus would
oppose, therefore the SlguerS declined 10
be bound by the caucus. They would
ask instead Tor conference, which they
might attend with the distinct under
b yany action taken.
To Ask Consideration.
In this conference they would de-
sire consideration of the whole ques-
los of the rules with the view Of de-
termining IL the Republicans could
not reach basis of adjustment, /
and make the reform a party measure.
But they also would make clear that,
unless such arrangement could be made. |
they would not enter the caucus. and
would reserve the right TO act independ- !
entity on The floor of the House when 1t
should meet a. the constitutional time
Tor the purpose OF organization.
Tie Republican majority in the House
being about nifty. 1t would be necessary
10 keep less than thirty Republicans out |
OF the caucus. in order 10 make its &C
ton uugatOry. There Is no doubt, from
all information thus tar available, OF
the Willingness OF the Democrats TO
unite with the dlsameCted Republicans
in for>ing rule reform.
Three weeks ago, men who talked
OF thus boiling the caucus were looked
upon asg extremists, and held I'D as en-