The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-03-31
THE "SIX" GEORGIANS AND THE
RUCUS OVER CONGRESS RULES
Only Members We Ever Hear From
Except on Election Day.
From the VaIdosta Times.

From the ValdOsta Times.
IL Ralph Smith-our own Ralph
who is doing service as a Washing
ton correspondent, is to be believed
there is a serious row on in the
camp of the Georgia delegation a
Washington Ralph writes like
mere chronicler of news, and no
like a man who has the slightest
feeling in the matter. He refers tC
the spectacle presented upon the
floor of the house" when Cannon
was reelected speaker. He also re-
fers to certain Georgians as bolt
ers,' and quotes somebody from
over yander" as calling them trait
OrS." The situation is evidently Sc
Tious. 1t is nearly time for Ralph
to get the governor to call out the
''melish"-especially since the con-
gressmen who created the "specta-
cle' which Ralph complains of have
committed the double sin of being
against the governor in the last cam
paign. In fact, they were among
feat by him.
The names of the sinners, who
followed Tammany and what is left
of the northern democracy into yot-
ing for the Fitzgerald resolution,
which was supposed to modify the
Cannon rules, are Livingston, Griggs,
Lee, Howard, Edwards and Brantley
about the only members of the
Georgia delegation that one ever
hears from except on election day.
1t seems that there was a split
among the republicans, as we'll as
among the democrats. Champ Clark,
the democratic leader, belongs to the
obstruction school of democrats. He
is one Of those who believes that a
democrat ought to fight everything
a republican offers, whether it is
good or bad. He would "cut off
his nose to spite his face"
These Georgia members do not
seem to be of that mind. They are
as good democrats as MIR. Clark is,
but they do not see any reason why
a member who happens to be in
the minority should cut himself
loose entirely from the majority.
They see no good sense in kick
ing against thee pricks' and stand
ing in the attitude of "OppositiOn-
lists" when such an attitude is hurt
full to their service as representa- ves
of vast districts in Georgia 1t looks
as if the minority leader is trying
to be too much of a car himself.
His threat of political ostracism,
which Ralph says he is going to
dole out" to these GeOrgians, as
well as other democrats who voted
as they did, if they accept any favors
from Speaker Cannon in the way of
committee places, shows that he is
narrow between the eyes and that he
is madden over his failure to control
them than a good general ought to
get.
In the meantime the alleged row
is full of interest. 1t is a sort of
offset to the "insurgent" movement
among the republicans. We are not
close enough to the scene to under
stand it all. We will say, however,
that if there is no greater 'princi-
pie" involved than Clark's leader
ship of the minority we are not go
ing to blame these Georgians very
much for doing as they have done.
In the new arrangement of the tar
iff, as well as other matters, if they
stand a better showing of getting
some protection to Georgia products
from a courteous attitude to the
Speaker instead of a contemptuous
one) we do not blame them much for
doing so, especially since they get
the promise of so little from Champ
Clark. They can do that and still be
loyal democrats, ready to fight for
democratic principles when the real
struggle comes again.