The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-03-17
BITTER FIGHT
Is On Between Speaker Cannon
And The Insurgents.
DEMOCRATS JOIN IN

The War on the Speaker and He May
Be Dcfeated-The Allies Lack
Only One Vote, Which They Hope
to Get From Four New
Members.
Washington, March 10.-Repub-
lican leaders in the house of repre-
s~entatives are gravely discussing the
insurgents movement, which has
evolved sufficient strength to make
imminent a change of the house rules
despite the resistive efforts of the
Cannon-Payne-Dalzell combine. Fail
ing to change the rules on the day
preceding the adjournment last
week, the insurgents gave notice of
their immovable purpose thereafter
to renew the fight with vigor when
the extra session is raped to order
next Monday.
In the next house there will be
PIG Republicans and 172 Democrats.
The insurgents will have % hold
over members in their ranks with
certain addition of Judge Irving
Lent Lenroot, of Wisconsin, who was
elected on an Anti-Cannon pledge.
United with the solid Democratic
forces they will be able to muster
1876 votes, according to present es-
Inmates, while the total opposition
strength will be 1876. 1t requires the
vote Of only n Republican for the
insurgents to change the house rules
to any extent that may be desired.
The insurgents claim four new men,
bers: Picket and Woods, of Iowa;
Plumly, Of Vermont, and Kopp, of
Wisconsin.
They have been working earnestly
to make their converts and unless
the leaders stick close to their guns
the movement will undoubtedly be
recruited. So intense has the pur-
pose and the loyalty OF the insurg-
ents become that each mar is con-
shutting himself a whip" and is
doing strenuous service. Minority
Leader Clark says that every one
OF his men shall be present in the
house on March IS, to vote for a
change in the rules, which are as
obnoxious to the Democrats, as they
are to those Republicans who are
leading the movement for certain
radical reform.
The changing Of the rules along
radical lines Is not the only aim of
the insurgents. They mean, If pos
sible, to depose Speaker Cannon, and
that progress in that direction is CO.
equal and co-extensive with their
campaign for a change of the unpop-
ular rules.
A proposition has been submitted
to the Democrats by which an in
surgent may be elected Speaker with
the aid of the minority. The plan
is to allow the Democratic leaders
to select a candidate from among
the insurgents, who will then support
him. 1t is not believed that the
proposition will be accepted, as some
of the Democrats regard it as involv-
ing bad policies, and might result
in the insurgents being repudiated
by their party as going too far in
their opposition to the Republican
leaders of the house. Whether or
not Mr.. Cannon is defeated for re-
election As Speaker, every indication
points to the success of the move
ment against the existing rules in
At a banquet last Saturday night in
At a banquet last Saturday night in
honor of Vice President Sherman,
Speaker Cannon took occasion to say
what he thought about the insurg-
ents, saying among other things, that
hcnceforth none Of them would b"
recognized by the house Republican
regime. He also referred to them
as DULLES and buffers, who wera
absolutely without the courage of
their convictions.
1t will be seen from this that a
good-sized vote, at least, may be
polled against Mr.. Cannon next Mon
day.-News and Courier.