The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-06-18
KINKAID ON CANAON'S ELECTION
o'Nell Congressman Tells Why He
Voted for "Uncle joe"

Congressman Kinkaid of O'Neill who
voted for Cannon in the organization
of the house but who stood with the
insurgents" in the fight for revis.
ion OF the rules, has explained his en-.
tire course In an interesting state.
ment. The statement by Mr.. Kinkaid
Is as follows:
There are few who think did
not keep my promise made relative to
the speakership question. The follow
ers of Cannon, remembering how l
helped to lombard the speaker and the
"Old Rules" in response to the senti
ments Of my constituents, while know
ing that l had nothing to gain as to
the speakership, except unfavorable
consideration for committee assign
ments, would, II they knew of 1t,
highly appreciate this information
both for its irony and humor. They
know that when the steadfast "insur-
gents" of whom 1t Is universally ack-
nowledged l was one, finally did cast
their votes for Cannon for the speak
ership, that 1t was after he had been
overwhelmingly renominated by the
house republican caucus; and that 1t
was not to placate Cannon, but to pre-
serve their claims and the interests
of their districts for the party consid-
Grafton with the other seven-eights of
the republican membership, also with
the president and his cabinet officers,
that they so voted. Any of the Can
non supporters who may criticise us,
therefore, do not understand the facts,
else they would give hearty approval
of our action which has already been
universally accorded us by those cor
rectly understanding the facts and in
sympathy with the movement. Per
sonally, | did the same as the other
steadfast insurgents" Do my con-
stituents ask more? No. My promise,
made in printed circulars, was: "Will
oppose the reelection of Mr.. Cannon
as speaker" This l fulfilled with the
utmost fidelity by constantly opposing
his denomination and reelection to
the extent that I could go, and remain
within the pale of the party, which
was until he had been overwhelmingly
renominated by the house caucus.
. his did not express or imply l would
bolt a possible nomination of Cannon,
and no constituent required promise
so suicidal for me to have made, as l
was then asking for votes because l
was myself the nominee Of my party;
to have made such promise would
have justly invited my own defeat.
OF all the tests of party loyalty, the
record a member makes as to the per-
manent organization of the congress
Is the supreme one. If he shall repu-
date the action of this caucus, as to
nominations, party question In the
highest degree, he thereby forfeits his
right to party consideration without
which, his efforts made In behalf OF
his district, must. prove failure.
regard this paragraph a sufficient vim
dication of my vote.
Another proposition, sufficient in it.
self, If l needed it, is that between
the time when the promise was made
and the time for it's fulfillment, con-
ditions had so changed as to render it's
successful performance impossible.
The fall election, carrying with 1t the
reelection of Mr.. Cannon and enough
of his republican friends, both to nomi-
nate and elect him, the question as to
the speakership became settled in his
favor. Accordingly, his prediction re-
publican competitors, numbering six
support to him; leading dailies general
ly conceded his reelection to the
speakership; and, thereafter, the OPP
posers of Cannon restricted their let
ters to requests, not for the defeat of
Cannon, but for rules reformation,
through which the power welded by
the speaker, obnoxious and held Excess
sive had been exercised. This turn
would, itself, have excused me from
further effort as to the speakership,
but did not stop here. Notwithstand-
ing that previous to election, had
made no promise whatever as to rules
reformation, united earnestly In CO.
operation with other insurgents" in
that behalf, with the result Of partial
victory which would have been COM
plete, except that democratic ele-
ment insurged, going over to the Can
non element on the republican side.
Nevertheless, we gained great vic
tory, which has already borne fruit by
the passage of bills which have been
pending for several previous sessions,
for the reconsideration of which the
speaker had been responsible, notable
among which was the bill to control
intoxicants shipped in packages from
one state to another, after reaching
their destination. The result of al
change in the rules is far more reach
ing, permanent and effective, against
the essence of the difficulty, about
which the people complained, than
would have been the personal defeat
Of the speaker himself, which was
wholly impossible. The Cannon fol-
lowing would have many times prefer
red that ] voted against him and for
the old rules, rather than the reverse,
as | did vote. This, of itself, was a
gratuitous and abundant performance
of the substance or purpose Of my
promise, and proves that l had the
real cause at heart throughout.
Another very important feature was'I
that, while the president was at first
reckoned to be In sympathy with the
insurgents" finally, deeming the sue
cess of tariff revision, along the lines
promised, without which his admins
tration were a failure, imperiled by
the serious division in republican
ranks, he threw the great influence
of his administration In behalf of his
reconciliation, conceding the speaker
shin m Cannon and "a modification q