The National tribune., 1908-11-26
SPEAKER CANNON.
lie Will be Reelected as Surely as IL,
Lives Until the Next Congress Meets.
The Talk of Fight Against Him of No
Consequence.

All at once the political talk OF the
country is centering on Taft and Can
non. There is running to and fro
among the little Congressman, not the
big ones. This man, who has been to
Hot Springs, says so, and that man,
VINO, too, has been to Hot Springs says
thus. "a fight, a fight!' comes the
yell from many quarters. and Il high
old time is predicted by the ready
prophets for the very besinGing of the
new Administration.
1t will be well to discount the alarm
cries very materially and to bear in
mind q few things that are as cetrain
to happen along in March, 1909, as
anything can be in politics. One is
that Uncle Joe Cannon will be re-
elected Speaker a third time when
Congress assemblies in the extra ses-
sion which Mr. Taft has promised to
call. Another is that the new Presi-
dent, Mr.. TAFT, wants to work in har-
mony with Senate and House. and in
all probability will be able to realize
his wishes. The Speaker is not likely
to antagonize Mr.. Taft. ana Mr.. Taft is
not likely to antagonize Mr.. Cannon.
Perhaps the President and Congress
will quarrel before four years have
passed, and perhaps they will not quar-
rel
OverZealous friends of the new Pres
ident are possibly responsible for con-
siderable of the hostile talk. Mr.. Taft
is much in earnest for a very thoro
revision of the tariff. 1t is exceedingly
important to the success of his Admin
istratiOn that he secure a thoro revi-
sion. Many voters who were moved to
support the Republican ticket at the
recent election on the plea that the
Republicans would revise the schedules
thoroly. but with as little disturbance
TO 70 hr1ci mi oh no will
expect the pledges of the Chicago plat
form in that particular to be carried
out
II there is such revision right at
the threshold of his term Mr.. Taft will
have scored no mean triumph. That
success will give him new prestige
and he will be in a better position to
get what he asks subsequently of Con-
gress.
Cannon Lukcwarm on Revision.
It Is we'll known that Speaker Can
non is not an ardent revisionist. Meth
er are his lleutenants of Ways and
Means, who will figure prominently in
the tariff legislation. They may want
to revise less than Mr.. Taft would want
to revise, but there has been no word
from them yet to warrant any positive
Inference. Men who were trying to
stir up some trouble for the Speaker in
lle recent campaign are sllll Trailing
him. Mr. Taft's sympatnies may be
more strongly with the so-called pro-
gressive wing, but, after all, there is no
splendid prospect yet of a quarrel be-
tween the Speaker and the next Presi-
dent
1t is almost superhuous to assert that
Mr.. Cannon will be reelected as Speak
er. IL he lives and enjoys good health
till next March. or till the extra ses-
Of 10 ic
questionably the leader Of his party in
the House. 1t would be contrary to all
precedent to defeat him now for re-
election. His defeat would divide the
Republican Party In the House. To
some extent it would demo alize the
party forces there, and open wide the
breach between the two powerful fac
tions there have been in the party for
six or seven years. Personally the
Speaker is popular with 90 per cent of
the Republican members. Probably he
is more popular personally with men,
bers than any other Speaker of the
last 90 years. For while Reed may go
Cannon, and is still regarded as one
Of the greatest Speakers the House of
Representatives ever had, he was not
personally very popular in the House.
Members admired his ability, but did
not like his sarcastic sayings.
Furthermore, Mr.. Cannon undoubt-
edly has a majority of the votes of the
Republican caucus-a very large ma
jority-already pledged to his re-elec-
tion. 1t is almost inconceivable to
those who are familiar with the pres
ent organization of the House and
know the forces which enter into 1t
that any Republican candidate for
Speaker who might stand forth be-
tween now and next March could de-
feat him for the caucus nomination,
which will be equivalent to an cleo
tion.
Representative Burton, of Ohio Is
almost the only man of Speakership
size on the Republican side other than
Mr.. Cannon. He is bent on coming to
the Senate from Ohio. Possibly some
diligent Ohioans, who would be entire
ly willing to put few obstacles in the
way of his Senatorial ambition, have
encouraged the gossip about his be-
coming an active candidate for Speak
er. Mr.. Burton has already announced.
as matter of fact, that he does not
aspire to the Speakership.
Cannon VIII BE Here This Week.
Speaker Cannon is to be here the
latter half of the week. To his COM
ing attaches more than usual interest,
because of the National situation, in