The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-13
Republicans and Democrats Are United Against Arbitrary
 Power of Cannon
WATSON DECLARES THAT
 INSURGENTS WILL LOSE
There Is No Serious Plan to Defeat Cannon for the Speakership, But There Is Bitter Feeling To-
 ward the Rules.

Washington, March 12-Three important developments occurred today in the insur rection against the adoption in the House of the rules of the Sixtieth Congress to govern the incoming Congress.
 compromise fathered by Senator Cum mins of Iowa, and presented to the regu- lars by President Taft, failed to unite the republican members. What was pro- nounced as a satisfactory working agree ment was entered into by the republican "insurgents' and the democrats. The name of Theodore Roosevelt was intro duced as 'insurgent sympathizer."
 The compromise was one the insurgents have had under consideration ever since the report became current that President Taft desired a postponement of the fight on the rules lest it might delay the pas sage of the tariff bill. After the organ ization of the House on Monday it was provided that a resolution should be passed authorizing committee to inves- tigate the rules and report on proposed changes at the regular session in Decem- Der. It was proposed that the insurgents should be allowed to name four of their number for the committee, the democrats six and the regulars five. The latter five were to be Representative Mann of H. linois, Currier of New Hampshire, Keller of Ohio, Smith of Iowa and Stevens of Minnesota.
 Suggestion Rejected.
 For the regulars. former Representa- tive Watson of Indiana replied that the compromise was acceptable, if amended so as to allow the speaker to appoint the committee, due regard being given to the insurgents in its composition. The lead- CTS of the insurgents subsequently, de- clared they would accept no such sugges- tion.
 It is believed President Taft will exert his influence to bring the two branches of the party together, however.
 For more than two hours this afternoon the steering committee of the insurgents was in conference with a committee rep resenting the democrats. Representatives Gardner Madison, Nelson. Hubbard and Hnshaw were present for the insurgents and Minority Leader Clark and Represen- tative Underwood of Alabama for the democrats.
  democrats that they could deliver 30 votes for any proposition they desired to pro pose on Monday. The democrats prom ised to furnish TO votes against the previous question motion on the adoption of the old rules This is the full dem ocratc strength, less two, there being one vacancy on account of death, and one member being seriously i'll. As 195 will be majority the allied forces claim the victory
 Programme Agreed Upon.
 The programme tentatively agreed upon by the allies was to vote down the pre- yious question on the adoption of the rules on Monday and if the amendment to the rules providing for committee to select committees is voted down to propose that the committee on rules be elected by the House The democratic conferees are said to have expressed as- surance that they could line up the en- tire democratic delegation for the latter amendment, but they were not so cer- tain as to the former.
 The regulars claim to have the prom ises of several democrats not to vote with their party for tAe various amend ments and deny that the 1nsurgent forces will number 30.
 q have never yet as whip fallen down on a poll of the House, declared former Representative Watson tonight. 'The or ganizaton will win in a walk
 Both the democrats and the insurgents say that no serious attempt will be made to defeat MT. Cannon for speaker. The insurgents will be left to follow their personal inclnations in tlhs direction.
 At the republican caucus tomorrow night 1t is planned to bind the party to vote for MT. Cannon and for the adop- tion of the rules. Several of the in- surgents will not attend
 At the democratic caucus Monday'morn- ing 1t is intended to bind the members to vote against the rules.