The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-08-03
THE PLANS OF
The SPEAKER.
VIII He Try to Punish Repub-
IlCan Insurgents?
IS ADVISED NOT TO 90 So
Il Is Urged That Such Policy Would
Only Widen Breach and Intensity
Opposition TO Him In and Out Of
consress--Democrats Preparing to
Fight For Seats In Next House.

Opposition 60 Him In and Out Of
consrsss--Democrats Preparing to
Fight For Seats In Next House.
Washington. July 31.-fSpecial. lit
Is understood that Speaker Cannon
has been advised by several of his
friends and colaborers in the legisla.
tive vineyard that he ought to go slow
If he has disposition To really punish
the leaders of the insurgent move.
ment In the house at the beginning of
the extra session In March. 1t has
been common talk that Uncle Joe.
when be announces the balance of the
house committees. will reduce most of
the Republicans who Joined the Demo.
Gratis in bucking against his power.
The speaker has been reminded that
this would intensity the situation
and the fight would not only be re-
newed ct the winter session of con-
gress, but would be kept up and car.
ried into the districts next year when
the regular congressional elections
take place. The suggestion also has
been thrown out that the Democrats
who bolted Champ Clark's leadership
In the spring are not to be relied upon,
for they have lately been slipping back
into the camp.
Democrats Preparing For Fight.
For the last ten years the Republi.
cans In congress have kept up their
campaign organization steadily. This
policy was enforced by the late 10.
seph w. Babcoek of Wisconsin. who
was such successful chairman of the
committee But the Democrats have
been In the habit of organizing their
committee only few months before
the campaign OF an election opened
h The Democrats. however, are now GO
Ing TO pursue different plan. They
have named a new committee for the
Hght to be made next year. and will
commence the work with view OF
trying to make party gains on ac
count of changes 10 the tariff laws
They contend that the schedules as
arranged will give them much better
chance of obtaining control Of the
even though the Republican leaders
insist that they see no danger Of a
break In their lines as d result of
tariff legislation.
A Frank Confession.
On an average member of the
house 10 allowed In session to have
six of bis pension bills fayorably re-
ported and passed The prevailing
custom Is for the member who intro
duces these measures to so before the
committee on invalid pensions and in
dieate the bills be would like to have
reported. Il am Of the opinion said
congressman. that some provision
ought to be made to direct the COM
mittee to take up first the most needy
cases and put those through. know
so far as | am concerned there is a
mighty temptation for me to push to
the front bills which will help me
politically. For instance. although |
am Republican. IL an old soldier
happens to have a lot of Democratic
voters in his family there is an incli-
nation on my part to get bis bill
through, especially us my district is
an uncertain one. IL stiff rule were
adopted neither / nor any other men,
Der could violate It"
Questionable Use Of Flag.
Representative Goulden, of New
York, Ia the latest statesman to come
to the front with bill providing for
the punishment OF any persons or
firms found guilty Of using the flag
OF the United states for advertising
purposes II his measure were to be-
come law he would have each per-
son or firm convicted. both fined and
imprisoned. Many bills of similar
character have been introduced in the
years gone by. but the committee to
which they have been referred never
has thought the matter OF enough con-
sequence to take any action one way
or the other. A great many of the
congressman do not think that at
tractive advertisements which have
our Gag properly presented are In the
nature Of an insult to the stars and
stripes, but on the contrary. cause
American citizens to take more pride
in the dag. and that the oftener dis
played the better 1t Is for the country.
Big Waterways Convention.
An unusually large number Of i'm
porsant conventions are to be held in
Washington Ia the coming fall and
winter months. Probably the most nu
merously attended by far will be that
Of the national rivers and harbors con-
gress. The secretary estimates now
that fully 5000 delegates Will be In
attendance from all parts of the Unit
ed States. There were about 3.000
delegates last year. making about as
representative Il gathering as was pos
sible to at together. President Taft
practicagly has accepted an Invitation
to address this big convention. and the
officers OF hespongress are encouraged
to believe that he will earnestly In
eorse the NOV einent for the proper I'M
provement the waterways of the
country. although they do not 20 80