Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-03-11
Plan of Campaign to Be Mapped Out
at Meeting Tonight.
ATTITUDE OF SPEAKER CANNON
He Will Probably Ignore Minority
Leader in Making Appointments.
TO CALL INSURGENTS DEMOCRATS
Possible Move that would Reduce
Minority Representation on Com-
mtttees and Embarrnss Re-
formers I'm Future.

WARRINGTON. March 10-Nothwith-
standing the opposition of the president
to an attempt TO amend the rules OF the
house at this time because OF its probable
effect on tariff legislation, the managers
of the ''insurrection" declared today that
they would continue to press their demand
for a change in the rules at the beginning
OF the special session. To that end q con-
ference of insurgents will be held Ihurs-
day night
1t Is claimed by the insurgents that the
attitude of President Taft will not affect
their members in the least.
The conference Thursday night VIII be
held to determine exactly the strength that
can be mustered and to decide upon
course of action.
Insurgents and democrats were indulB-
ing in much speculation at the capital to-
dav as to what would be the policy of
Speaker Cannon in selecting the commit
tees of the next house in the event he is
successful in the present fight over the or
ganization of the house in the sixty-first
congress The democrats are apprehen-
that the speaker will assume the right TO
fill the minority as well as the majority
places on the committee. Several demo-
Gratis have appealed to the speaker directly
for appointment to certain committees.
When John Sharp Williams was minority
leader Speaker Cannon referred all such
applications to the minority leader. he
has taken no such action this time. Mi
nortty Leader ,Clark's friends say he can
interpret this course In but one way There
have been no conferences between the mi
nority leader and the speaker. and 1t Is un-
derstood none are scheduled. The demo-
Gratis will make political capital out of
the failure to recognize the minority
leader.
Insurgents ms Democrats.
Another possibility that is worrying both
the democrats and the insurgents" is that
Speaker Cannon may classify the 'insur-
gents as minority members of the house
and make up committees on that basis
That would reduce the democratic repre-
sentation on the committees and might
prove embarrassing to the insurgents" in
the future.
on the floor OF the house the democrats
will attempt to take the lead in the oppo-
| sition to adopting the rules. They will not
| allow that honor to go to the insurgents. "
The opposition of large number OF DEM
ocrats to the election OF committee to
! select the house committees will probably
defeat that plan of the insurgents II an
opportunity arises to consider that amend
| ment on the floor. The proposition to have
the committee on rules elected by the house
and barring the speaker from the commit
| tee will have more support from the demo
cratic side
As an evidence OF their desire not to in
| terfere with the tariff, the insurgent lead
ers today announced that they were willing
for the speaker to appoint the committee
on ways and means.
Conferences at White House.
The members of the Interstate Commerce
commission, headed by Chairman Knapp
conferred today with President Taft anC
announced that they were to have another
conference. but they would not discuss tn,
matters under consideration. 1t is under
stood that the president desired to be fully
informed to the affairs of the commits
sion. and devoted much of the time to in
quiries.
President Taft instructed Attorney Gen
eral Wickersham to choose his assistant
without consideration of political influence
or political services rendered. This polio,
was decided after conference with Secre
tary Knox and Mr.. Wickersham On
cause Of friction at the Department o
Justice which Mr. Wickersham will en-
deavor to smooth over is the appointment
OF attorneys by the Interstate Commerc
commission.
Under the policy laid down by PresideE
CONTINUED on Second PaKeO