The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-03-16
ANTI-CANNON MOVEMENT.
Democrats and Insurgents Join
Hands and Claim That They
Have Strength Enough to
Secure the Amendment
of the House Rules.

Washington, March 12.-Three i'm
portant developments occurred tod;-.,
IN the insurrection against the adop-
ton in the house Of the rules of the
60+,l congress to govern the incoming
congress.
A compromise. fathered by Senator
Cummins, Of Iowa, and presented to
the regulars by President Taft, failed
to unite the Republican members.
What was pronounced as satisfac-
tory working agreement was entered
into by the Republican "insurgents' .
and the Democrats. The name Of
Theodore Roosevelt was introduced as
<1insurgent" sympathizer.
The compromise was one that the
s'insurgents' have had under consid-
eration ever since the report became
current that President Taft desired a
postponement Of fight on the rules
lest it might delay the passage of &
tariff bill. It provided for the re-
election Of Speaker Cannon and the
adoption of the rules of the 60th con-
gress for the special session. After
the organization of the house on Mon
day yit was provided, that resolution
should be passed authorizing a COM
mittee Of fifteen to investigate the
rules and report on proposed changes
in the regular session in December.
It was proposed that the "insur-
gents" should be allowed to name
four of their number for the commit
tee, the Democrats six, and the regu-
lars five. The latter five were to be
Representatives Mann, Of Illinois,;
Currier, of New Hampshire; Keifer,
Of Ohio; Smith, of lowe, and Stevens,
of Minnesota.
For the regulars, former Represen-
tative Watson, Of Indiana, replied
that the compromise was acceptable,
if amended so as to allow the speaker
to appoint the committee, due regard
be given to the insurgents in its COM
position. The leaders CT the "ins"r-
gents' subsequently declared that
they would accept no such suggestion.
1t is believed that President Taft
will exert his Influence to bring the
two branches Of the party together,
however.
For more than two hours this after
noon, the steering committee Of the
1insurgents' were in conference with
a committee, representing the Demo-
Gratis. Minority Leader Clark and
Representative Underwood, Of Ala
bama. represented the Democrats.
The "insurgents,' it is stated, con-
vinced the Democrats that they: could
deliver thirty votes for any PROPOSE
tion they desired 10 propose on Mon
day. The Democrats promised TO fur
nish ITO votes against the previous
question motion on the adoption Of the
old rules. This is the full Democrat
ic strength less two, there beingeone
vacancy on account of death and one
member being seriously ill. AS 195
will be a majority, the allied forces
claimed the victory.
The programme tentatively agreed
upon by the allies, was to vote down
the provisions question. on the %adop-
ton of the old rules on Monday; and
if the amendment to the rules provid-
ing for a committee to select commit
tees is voted down to propose that the
committee on rules be elected by the
house. The Democratic conferees are
said to have expressed assurance that
they could line up the entire Demo-
cratic delegation for the latter amend
ment, but they were not so certain as
TO the former.
The regulars claim to have the pro-
misses Of several Democrats not to vote
with the party for the various amend
ments, and deny that the "insur-
gents" forces will number 80.
After a second conference with
President Taft today, Speaker Can
non was in particularly good humor.
~@'I have no DOUBT he said, "that
the organization will win out. We
4organdbed the house before and I
guess we will do it again next Mon
day.