The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-10-29
CANNON REQUIRES
SUPPORT Of TAFT
"Uncle joe Facing Most
Crucial Test of His
Career.
REPUBLICANS KNOW
MOVE IS NECESSARY
Realize That Unless Action Is
Taken Power in House May
Be Lost.
By JOHN SNURE.

II the reports coming from the Pres
idential party on the Mississippi river
are correct. that certain OF Speaker
Cannon's friends have appraised him the
Republican party is IN danger unless
he consents not TO run for Speaker
again, little doubt is felt here that
Uncle Joe" VIII quietly reiinquish the
Feins of power.
It appears efforts have been made to
induce President Taft TO give Mr. Can
non strong Endorsement IN the hope
that such an Endorsement will enable
the Speaker to resist the opposition
gathering against him.
With the President to take up the
cudgels IN his behalf, Speaker Cannon
might hope to succeed himself Should
the President be Indifferent, the situa-
ton viii not be encouraging for Mr..
Cannon, provided. as seems likely now,
some Of the men who have always stuck
TO him through thick and thin, begin
either actually to desert or TO lose all
interest IL the proceedings The mo-
ment there is a breach in the ranks of
the regulars in the House. Mr.. Cannon's
chances for reelection as Speaker will
be slim. It viii be recalled that when
he was reelected at tie beginning Of
this Congress. he did not have a large
margin Of votes. The desertion at that
time OF a few regulars would have stir
red panic among the Cannon support
ers.
And so it is likely that, with signs Of
trouble for Uncle Joe" multiplying a
good many OF the members OF the House
who have stood by him win conclude
that it is time to get out from under.
At best, Mr.. Cannon is confronted with
q great fight in the House and out OF it
70 force his reelection as Speaker And
while the Speaker is not likely Of his
own volttion TO stray away from night,
and while his nerve is generally immac-
ulate, that is not true of all the men
who have been voting for him Once
let the idea get abroad in the House
that the Speakers fortunes are in the
decline. and there viii be a great
scurrying from the old craft and frantic
efforts to ind new one.
Losing Forces.
It viii not be at All surprising if
s'Uncle joe" after having long welded
the tremendous power Of the Speaker
ship. finds that the forces on which he
has been IN the habit OF depending are
swiftly disintegrating He is likely to
have this experience the coming win
ter. It is already freely whispered
this winter attempts TO dictate i'm
portant legislation or 20 stand in the
way of legislation for which there is a
strong public demand, he viii find an
amazing lot Of insurgency and VIII get
run over. This win be the more true
If he has TO run counter TO the Presi-
dent on any Of the large legislative
questions which win come up for con-
sideration.
some talk has been INDUCED TO the
erect Mr. Cannon would be OuSted
rom the office of Speaker this winter.
No stock Is taken IN that Idea In Wash
fngton. 1t would be possible OF course
to Gust the Speaker. II TIE opposition
We're strong enough II has been done
at times iR-Lhe British parliament. But
q good many members OF the House y no
VIII not support Mr.. Cannon Tor another
term as Speaker would refuse 10 in
dorse any movement TO sUpplant him
While Mr. Cannon Yields great power
he is yet not as powerful as the House
Republican organization. signs nave
been clear for some time that the Op
position 10 Mr.. Cannon the country over
was getting 10 be so strenuous that the
House organization or machine would be
8 couUeIled seriously 10 consider the Ques-
ton of getting rid or Mr.. cannon 10
order 10 save Itself from defeat. Inc
reports from the Mississippi river trip IN.
dicate that the organization mas al lasl
siIf the reports from the Mississippi
river party are true. said one OF the
highest officials IN Washington, a for
rner member of Congress, who has al
ways stood with the organization, they
mean that the anti-CannOn movement
has reached the highest point thus far
MI Cannon IS q fighter but he car
only say, as a good party man, that, Il
hts election as Speaker another term
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