Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-10-19

day night, and still no word from the
man who from his desk at Tammany
could decide the future of the national
house. Monday morning came The
house was to be organized at noon; and
still Murphy held off.
Noon came, and the speaker, hag-
gard, worn and agitated, left the last
conference of his aides in his private
room, marched across the corridor to
the house chamber. and appeared on
the floor. His supporters applauded
wildly at his appearance. Most of
them. in sooth, did not know the
desperation of their plight There was
even the ominous shadow OF uncertain
ty whether the speaker could be re-
elected on the first ballot. The rules
were defeated unless the reinforce
ments should come from New York;
the reinforcements that must decide
whether that days Waterloo would
make Uncle Joe" Napoleon or a
Wellington.
But the sturdy old speaker never put
up a better front, never was more COM
pletely in command of his every facul-
ty, than in that moment of supreme
trial. The house was almost a mob
1t was the climactic moment Of the
long and bitter fight. Feeling ran
higher than the house had known 1t
in many years. The speaker would
probably win by a close margin, and
the rules stood to lose by a still closer
one. A dynasty was at stake.
Clerk Mcdowell mounted the plat
form and raped the house to order.
The business was the election of a
speaker; and in the midst of the most
intense excitement the house proceeded
to that business. Still no word had
come from New York.
The speaker was elected; the first
bridge had been passed The democrats
been needed Then came the fight on
the rules.
Story Grows Interesting.
This is where the story grows inter-
esting. They tell here in New York
with apparently absolute confidence
that an investigation will prove it. that
congressman came after Cannon had
been elected, and before the vote on
the rules; that the word was hurriedly
passed and, at the end of the long
wrangle over procedure when the vote
came, the twenty three democratic
votes were delivered, including the
Tammany group, and the day was
saved.
This story Is so remarkable as to be
difficult of belief. Yet the opportun-
ties for absolute knowledge possessed
by men who give this version, are such
as to commend attention. Certain it is
that the votes were not delivered or
the speakership. and were delivered or
the rules contest. Why?
Is the House Concerned?
But in this whole matter there is
one large question which nobody has
yet answered Is there anything in al
this TO warrant investigation by the
| house? Has the house any concern
with a mere matter of party regular
| ity? Should the house look after any
possible Improperly involved in poll
teal deal between Cannon and Tam.
many. or should the republican caucu!
attend to that, SO far as concerns Can.
non? Should the house take cognizancs
of the fact that twenty-three dem
ocrats deserted their party, or is tina
the business exclusively, of the dem.
ocratic caucus? These are question:
Which will be a good deal debated be.
| fore any resolution for investigation
can be passed. The outcome can no
row be set down as by any mean!
certain.
But whether 1t becomes the subjec
of investigation or not it may be Sc
down as pretty certain that there vii
be important results from thes'
charges. There is possibility Of an eff
| fort in the democratic causcus to haV,
an investigation, by a committee o
the caucus The whole matter is thus
far vague and underlined in the minds
of the men who expect to be intimate
ly concerned in it.