Evening star., 1909-03-09
TAFT'S HAND IN FIGHT
Interferes for Peace Against
House ''Insurgents."
HELP FOR THE REGULARS
Cabinet Members, It Is Said, In
structed to Get Busy. +
TARIFF LEGISLATION AT STAKE
Danger of Delay Because Of Dissen-
sions Said to Have 1mpelled
President to Act. ;
HELP FOR THE REGULARS
TARIFF LEGISLATION AT STAKE

President Taft has taken a hand In
the internal troubles of the House OF
Representatives. He has, 1t Is said. in
Structed his entire cabinet to get busy
with the insurgent republicans OF the
body and labor with them until they sec
the light. He realizes. more than any
one else, the Importance of harmony in
the lower branch of the national legisla-
ture during the coming special tariff ses-
sion. He does not need to be told what
would happen to the country should a
prolonged rules row in the House result
in delay in the passage of new duty
schedules.
This is the latest development In the
situation which has been considered SO
serious by Speaker Cannon and other
leaders of the House of Representatives.
On the best of information II was made
apparent today that President Taft has no
idea of sitting quietly by while an internal
fight on the rules and organization of the
House of Representatives jeopardiZes the
beginning of the new administration.
Frank Hitchcock has been put to work in
particular and the rest of the cabinet
in general. BY tomorrow night 1t is ex-
pected that an announcement will be
made which will demonstrate. with abso-
luteness and accuracy that the organi-
cation of the House is In control. and that
the insurgents are running for cover.
Mr.. Taft's activity is not the result OF
an appeal from the Speaker or his friends
and counselOrs in the House. Indeed. It
was learned today that since last fall.
when IT was made to appear that Pres-
den Taft and Mr.. Cannon were on the outs
and that the now President of the United
States was ready to dicker with the op-
position for Mr.. Cannon's war lock, that
the President has been in conciliatory
mood with regard to Uncle Joe. He is
| 1;c-,tr,,I ,I<,v.-
| standing and misrepresentation brought
about the almost-rupture Of last fall and
that now, having more comprehen-
sive appreciation of affairs as they really
are that he is unwilling that there should
| be a repetition of the mix-up OF some
| months ago. Mr.. Cannon and his friends
| left 1t to the common sense OF Mr. Taft
| to take a hand in the present controversy,
confident that when he had reviewed the
situation and become aware OF the dam
| gers that threatened should the demo-
Gratis. plus the insurgent republicans. gain
control over the House organization, that
| he would voluntarily take hand and do
what he could to straighten matters out
| This, it is insisted, President Taft has
already done.
Regulars Are Encouraged.
Naturally, the Speaker and his allies
are much encouraged. 1t was intimated
today that by tomorrow night it could
be stated definitely just where matters
| stood. although the previous general
sertion was made today that the insur-
gent republicans were weakening, or, in
other words, to use the partial phrase
ology of Representative Victor Murdoch
of Kansas on the floor of the House the
other day. there were some notable
cold feet in view.
Incidentlly, Mr.. Murdock gave out an
interview last night in which he said that
the insurgents would be able to sit up
and take notice unless President Taft
interfered. In view of the fact that it
is positively stated that the President
already has taken an active hand in the
game. Mr.. Murdock's statement is now
looked upon practically an admission
of insurgent impotency and prospective
defeat.
Today's indications made positive the
assertion in yesterdays Star that Mr.
Cannon would have practically no oppo-
SitiOn whatever for reelection to the
speakership- So far as that is concerned.
the Speaker and his friends are not
worrying. The fact is they have never
given much attention to this particular
phase of the question. The fight has been
not on Speaker Cannon, but on the rules
which he was called upon to administer.
and Representative Champ Clark Of Mis-
souri,. the minority floor leader, has come
own democratic colleagues. because OF
his refusal to offer. at the close of the
session just ended, the usual compliment
tary resolution to the effect that the
rules of the Sixtieth Congress were ad-
ministered by the Speaker both wisely
and well.
with reference to this 1t would not ap-
pear that Mr.. Clark will have very much
to say with regard to the makeup of
committees hereafter, even as concerns
his own side of the chamber,
Capitol gossip, which Is usually more
accurate than most OF the same sort, has
it that John Sharp Williams and Mr..
Clark, both promised to support the rule
for a calendar Wednesday, which was re-
ported by the rules committee during the
close of the session and which, although
originally favored by the insurgents and
democrats. was opposed by them on the
ground that it was merely sop" but
that when the time came. and without
warning to Speaker Cannon. they turned
around and opposed it. Certain 1t is they
did the latter, and during the last day or
so Mr.. Clark has been quoted as saying
he expected no favors from the Speaker,
and certainly not that of naming the
minority members Of the various commit
tees. But it is not known how Speaker
preserve peace and good will in the House:
will carry his resentment of the acton or
the democratic leaders on this calendar
Wednesday proposition.
No Opposition to Cannon.
Representative Rodenberg of Illinois.
who will nominate Speaker Cannon for
reelection in the caucus Of March 10.
was confident today that there would be
no opposition to Uncle Joe. and the other
House leaders now in Washington were
equally certain in this direction. But
what is more to the point. they seemed
to be much more optimistic than they
have been for the past few days for
successful termination Of the threatened
conflict with their own colleagues
At a recent conference Of democratic
leaders the whole business OF the rules
revolt was thoroughly gone over, and 1t
is understood that these wise men of the
minority decided that they would not be
the hand to pull the insurgent chestnuts
out of the fire. AS nearly as they agreed
on the proposition it Is reported that they
told the insurgents that the democrats
would get together and formulate such
changes i'm the rules of the House as they
would advocate should the majority of
that body be democratic. Then II the insur-
gents wanted to come over and join with .
them in a revolt, it would be all right
But the democratic leaders made II plain .
to the insurgent chieftains that they did