Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-03-11
FOES OF THE SPEAKER CON-
PEELED TO SURRENDER ON j.
PROMISES OF LEGISLATION.
TARIFF AND COMMITTEES
HELD OVER AS CLUB
cannon's Friends Make Proffers of
Tariff Concessions For Constituents
of Insursents-some Committee AS
sianments Also Used to Bait the
Rebels.


ages in return for votes for Joe Can
non and his rules are the bait held out
by the speaker to secure the continue
ance of his rule in the house.
This is the latest game the regulars
are playing upon the insurgents The
fight is about over. Cannon and his CO.
horts are on top. and will WIN out. The
influence of President Taft, who fears
tariff delays, and the practical induce
ments which the boss of the house and
his henchmen are able to offer in the
way of favorable consideration in the
making of the tariff schedules have to-
gether proved too much for the noble
little army of refornlers and workers
for the parliamentary uplift Some con-
cessioEs may be made as to the rules.
but Cannon will be reelected speaker
carry things on In the old way. The
insurgents do not give UP. They de-
clare they will continue the fight to the
bitter end. They have hopes of secur>
ing some important concessions by way
of compromise, and it is understood
that President Taft is willing to help
them in this very quietly, if they will
promise not to delay the tariff bill The
leaders of the little band of thirty have
promised to be good so far as this is
concerned, but swear they will keep up
the fow as to reform of the rules
What is Held Out.
1t became known that the lieutenants
of Joe Cannon were going around tell
ing both republicans and democrats
that il they would stop making trou-
BILE over the rules and things some
thing might be done for their constitu-
ents in the new tariff bill Among those
who have had offers of this sort are
! the Louisiana democrats. They, of
course, are interested in nothing but
sugar. Everything at Washington is
sugar in their eyes. They have been as
made satisfactory" provided the old
regime wins out. And the hint is added
that If the new crowd should happen to
get on top the good Lord only knows
what would happen to those precious
schedules. The result is that the Louis
lana democrats are far from enthusiast
tic about the row over the rules kicked
up by a few bold republicans. They
may stay with the insurgents in half
hearted way up to a certain point, but
it is we'll understood that rather than
incur the risk of having anything sour
put in the sugar schedules they will
cut and run to cover at the critical
moment.
Rush for the Bandwason.
This is a fair example Of the enor-
nous power exerted by the men who
are in control Of the house or who are
likely to be in control Of it,. Nearly
every senator and representative is in
terested in one or more schedules of
the revenue law. He must take care
of his constituents or get the cold
hand when he goes back home. Every
producing and manufacturing indus
try in the land is exerting pressure
upon the statesmen it can reach. Hun
dreds of millions Of dollars are in
volved. No senator or representative
wants to make false move and fail
to get seat on the tariff band wagon.
This is true not only Of republicans but
of democrats. 1t is a mistake to sup
pose that only republicans are inter-
ested in maintaining high protection,
Uncle Joe, whom they call "Old Cigar
int Face" down here. and his able
staff Of assistants know just what
every member Of congress is Interested
in. They know where the tariff shoe
pinches in his case, and are able to give
him a hint as to what is for his own
good This is marvellous power, and
the former speaker and his aids are
not hesitating to use it.
Committee Assignments Too.
Committee assignments is another
power. A member of the house of rep
resentatives doesn't amount to much
unless he has a good committee. Uncle
Joe is an adept at the art Of holding
out inducements in this direction also.
rStand by Uncle Joe and get a good
committee" is another little game that
is being played, accompanied by the
inevitable: Go against the speaker and
YOU will probably land as member
Of the committee on ventilation and
acoustics" or the "disposition of waste
paper" or the drainage of the Poto-
mac Flats Some of the insurgent
leaders now hold good committee
places. They are marked for slaugh-
ter.
Realizing this difficulty the men who
are trying to bring about much
needed reform in the management OF
the house have promised to respect all
vested rights, so to speak. Men en-
titled to chairmanships and certain
committee places by virtue of long
service will be left undisturbed. The
committee on ways and means, which