The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-26
Arriving in. Washington Meek as
Lambs.
VIC MURDOCH, TOO.
Regulars of Party to Have Their
Inning This Session.
Taft, Cannon and Aldrich Will
Have Things Own Way.

Washington, Nov. 26.-The insurgen.
senators and representatives in con-
gress, especially in the lower house,
who have been talking so freely during
the short recess between the close OF
the special session on August 5, and the
reconvening Of the congress in regular
session on December 6, are experiencing
wonderful change of front as they
reach Washington.
For instance it was heralded in tn
inSurgent press that Representative
Victor Murdoch of Kansas had taken
Speaker Cannon at his word during The
trip with President Taft down the Mis-
sissippi river and would circulate a
petition for the speakers retirement.
The speaker, in one of his numerous
talks, said that he would retire as
speaker if a majority of the house or OF
his own party willed it. Murdoch grab
bed at the chance, so it was reported,
and was said to have come to Washing
ton with a petition bearing large
number of names of members of the
house, ealing upon the speaker to step
down from the presiding officers chair!
Murdoch Backed Up.
Mr.. Murdoch, when seen last night,
said that he had no such petition, nor
did he give the impression that he
would circulate one.
with the insurgents even to bring about
the retirement of the speaker TheI
was the best evidence of this diSin-
clination when they had the finest OPP
portunity ever presented at the opening
of the special session last April. Enough
Democrats followed Mr.. Fitzgerald 10
offset the insurgent votes and the rules
were adopted with the Fitzgerald
amendment.
The chautauuua element of the in
lrna oil yn
"Cannonism" and the house rules sub
iects during their brief time on the
rostrum, where the extremist is at his
best. but when they return to Wash
1rgton to face stern realities the ginger
suddenly escapes from their remarks.
and they begin to think of pet meas
ures which the people back home
would like put through congress. They
recognition from the speaker if they
keep up this fight. The speaker is in
flee. He was elected for the full
te rm of the Sixty-f1rst congress. The
rules were adopted for the same term.
How far, then, are the insurgents go
.ng to make good On the awful threats
hey have been making
No Illinois Insurgents.
A list of fifty alleged insurgents was
printed here few days ago, in which
appeared four names of Illinois repre-
sentatives. There was no authority for
the use of any of the four names, as
every member of the delegation from
he speakers own state has been loyal
at all times and will remain SO. Rep
resentative Prince has been counted as
an insurgent simply because he has
several times entertained strong views
in opposition to the organization, but
whenever the majority of his own
party had decided against him Mr.
Prince has invariably lined up with
them. Frank o. Lowden was named
IN the list, as was also Representative
wilson of Cook county Nothing more
-idiculous has been claimed than the
placing of Representative Lowden in
the insurgcnt list, and the only time
Mr.. Wilson has been at all obstreper-
Gus was in his opposition to the ship
subsidy bill.
The insurgent senator's figure in the
Rouse dispute only as advisors, but
they were very active at the opening
If the special session, coming over
from the senate chamber and occupy
-1-g seats at the rear of the representa-
tive hall, where they conferred and
counseled with the representatives
rom their states. Senators La Fol-
lette and Cummins were their chief
ones in this compact, and Speaker
Cannon rightfully resented their bold
Interference with the members. though
lie could do nothing to restrain it.
Regulars to Speak Now.
One thing is certain The in
insurgents have had the floor almost
exclusively for the past three months
Mr.. Cannon has met them with a few
broadsides which has started them to
thinking, and from the evidences
shown by insurgents who have so far
arrived in Washington he has put
something of a quietus upon their
busy mouthings. They have made all
the noise to date. while the strong
and substantial men of the party, the
men who control and who are there
fore responsible for legislation have
maintained. a discreet silence But
just wait for the explosion. Some of
the leaders have decided it is time to
speak out and discuss in the open the
real or imaginary grounds for COM
plant on the part of the insurgents.
Mention was made in these dis
patches recently of a thorough I'M
Outstanding between President Taft
and Speaker Cannon There is the
same cordially of feeling between the
president and Senator Aldrich. What.
then, is to interfere with the finest
kind of team work between the execu-
tive and the legislative branches of
the government. President Taft
twitted Uncle Joe" on several occas-
ions during his trip to the south, but
evidently the fact has been taken too
seriously by the insurgents. eager at
all times to grasp at any straw which
they might imagine would benefit
their cause
Insurgents Grow Cautious.
With assurances of the heartiest CO.
operation between the president and
the congressional leaders. the in
surgents are face to face with a
project of embarrassing the adj
ministration of their own party and
they are beginning to realize that
caution IS the word.
One of the leaders of the house in
surgents a few days ago laid down
the law to one of his enthusiastic
western followers who wanted to go
in and ''bust things wide OPEN in
these words.
amend the rules-yes; but not a
hand to be lifted in a manner to
demoralize the organization of the
house or to hamper the. presidents
program and its carrying out by
Republican congress. There is still
I'D