Evening star., 1909-03-01
CANNON aEBukES Al EpIToR
|CRITICIsM OF HOUSE RULES
RoUsEs SPEAKER's IRE.
Higgins Statements, He Declares,
Shows He Knows Nothing Of
What He Writes.

| Inoensed by an attack alleged to have
been made upon himself and the rules
OF the House Of Representatives by Ed
ward E. HigRfns president Of Success
Magazine, in q circular letter to the life
subscribers OF that publication. Speaker
Cannon has made public letter he had
| written to one or his constituents. in
! which he vigorously defended the House
rules.
The rules may not be ideal" writes
| the speaker, ''Dut they have stood the
| test among those who know them, In
spite OF half century or denunciation
such as Mr. Higgins puts forth. The
foundation principles OF the rules We're
der the leadership OF Jefferson and Mad
ison. They have been perfected from
year to year to meet the needs OF
| growing representation OF q growing ma
veloped.''
| Speaker Cannon's letter was in response
TO one from F. O. vorfs OF NeoEa, ILL.,.
| inclosing a copy Of the circular. Mr..
Cannon states that he had previously
| informing him that he was making
poll Of his life subscribers as to whether
he should be elected Speaker again and
whether the rules of the House should
be revised
"An Age Of Advertising"
"This Is an age OF advertising" writes
the Speaker, land IL has become almost
4 science. I receive hundreds Of letters
from men and women who would instruct
me in my duties as representative and
as Speaker. They all merit the considera-
ton due to the intelligence and oonscien-
tiousness they display in the presentation
OF views; no more and no less l re-
ceive letters from men who denounce the
legislature. the executive. the judiciary,
~ lac chS nsaA Hl,A .,f 10
House Of Representatives. One publish
er makes II a point to denounce the mar
rowing influence Of religion on our civ
ilisatton. and demands legislation that
will destroy this influence: another de-
hounces the fundamental law Of the land.
and would destroy the Constitution and
the statutes; clever stock broker sends
out bulletins attacking the executive. and
another advertfses his attack on business.
Mr.. Higgins employs the same methods
to attack the Speaker and the rules OF the
House.
"He attacks the present Speaker a S rep
fesenting the Observation-Disclosures they
may mean. i confess / do not know. but
I have noticed the use OF the expression
by those who. while ready to attack men
In public life; still have a regard for the
libel laws, and seek to discredit without
assuming the responsibility for simple and
direct accusations which they might have
to prove or suffer the consequences. Mr..
Higgins has this same respect for the
institute unworthiness against law
makers.
'Shows His Ignorance"
"As to the criticism which Mr.. H;g-
gins makes Of the rules and the id-
ministration OF them by the Speaker.
little need be said His letter shows
that he knows nothing of what he
writes. That will be evident to any one
who ever studied the rules or observed
carefully and honestly their admnistra-
ton. A man who. without having stud ed
the law Of the land or practiced In the
courts. should criticise and denounce indis-
criminately the law and the courts. simply
because he had heard the complaints OF
lawyers who had lost their cases, would
receive from the community the atten-
tion to which his ignorance and his
presumption fairly entitle him.
But tt seems that any one, after hav-
ing sat at the feet OF persons dissatis-
fed with legislation or disgruntled be-
cause of the failure OF proposed legis-
lation. may become q patriot and q
molder OF opinion by denouncing the
rules which adjust the rights and re.
Iations and secure the ef1ciency OF q
body Of 39l members. representing the
complex interests OF ninety millioA
people"