Evening star., 1909-03-09

not propose to be democratic dog
waRged by an inSurgent tail.
This decision Is understood to have
taken some Of the heart out OF the IN
pected to make them curl up and die.
Members OF the House organization VINO
yesterday spoke Of the ''dangerous char
acter Of the present situation. and who
today were all smiles. speaking Of the In
surgents in the past tense and predicting
a quick and complete get-together OF the
republican forces at the present session.
Regret Failure to Act
Il am afraid" said a leading insurgent
10 House organization regular last
night that we erred in voting during the
closing days of the session against the
calendar Wednesday amendment to the
rules. That was really what we wanted
and I am afraid we did ourselves and
everybody else hurt In opposing It,.
This admission is considered by the reg
ularS, In connection with Mr.. MurdOck
previously given statements. to be COM
plete confession OF weakness. Consequent
ly, Uncle Joe Cannon was all smiles to-day
and his companions and advisers were in
the same boat. They are more hopeful
now of a complete and quick termination
of the revolt than they have been at any
time in the last three weeks
President Taft does not propose to se.
into the fight in any direct manner, but
he is highly anxious that at the beginning
of his administration his party. in the
House and elsewhere, shall work har-
moniously.
He greatly desires harmony between
the executive and legislative branches OF
the government. and he fears, 1t Is stated
today. that II the party gets into cut,
throat game in the House the erect all
along the line will be serious upon the
general prospects and possibly disastrous
He is Of the opinion that in the face OF
the great problem of revising the tariff
a problem that requires the combined
craftsmanship and wisdom of his party
other questions might we'll be laid aside
for a time when there is less of impor-
tance to handle.
This. at least is his attitude as is repre-
sented by those who claim to know
Nothing authoritative has come from him.
and it is unlikely that there will be any
thing. The insurgents have been hope
full that their plans would have indorse-
ment from the White House. the basis Of
this feeling being the known fact that
the Pres!dent-elect at one time felt that he
would have to use power TO force the
House authorities into line for ain honest
revision of the tariff. Having received
assurances that it Is the intention of the
House leaders to make such a revision he
did not make further preparations for
the expected encounter.
The Presidents Attitude.
The attitude of the President today is
not from any excessive affection for
Speaker Cannon. but from a wholesome
desire to have the country get down to
the normal as soon as possible. to get
tariff revision over and let business again
move along without fear of agitation or
further legislation concerning customs
duties. The promised fight in the House
would do no good in the face of the tariff
requirements and might lead to endless
trouble.
The President. too. it is represented. is
sufficient of party man to desire diff
ferences to be settled within the party
and not with the aid Of willing demo-
Gratis. standing ready to widen all
breaches in the opposition. Without
1nsurgent claims and contentious the
President feels that later on party leaders
can determine what Is best as to changes
in the House. either IN. rules or per-
Ex-Rspresentatiyes James Watson. SO
1ons the republican whip of the House
and still in Washington aiding Speaker
Cannon in the fight threatened upon him
the House so effectively. called on Presi-
dent Taft today. He let the President
know that the situation among the re-
publicans is not as good as 1t could be
and that Ill feeling is beginning to show
in several directions. Mr.. Watson was
asked TO return to the White House at
$40 tonight, for a further talk
1t was jim Watson who was the
emissary of Speaker Cannon and the
House bosses IN the Roosevelt admins
tration land he patched up various diff
ferences between the White House and
the lower body of Congress. Although he
is out of job his influence is still recog-
nized az strong. and as a harmonizer he
is looked upon a. Al. There has been
some. talk of having President Taft give
him good Job. which everybody admits
ne could I'LL. but he says he is going back
to old Indiana, which beat him for gov
ernor last fall and resume the practice of
law at his old home in RushyiIle