Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-02-25
TO REFLECT CANNON
Speaker Will Have Practically
No Party Opposition.
Half n Dozen Representatives Who
Made ELECTION Pledge IN
Vote ngainst Him Placed in
an Awkward Position.

Two months ago w 3SnlnSlV1 was Hlleu
with reports about the fight that was to
Re made against the reelection OF Joseph
G.; Cannon ns speaker OF tho House or
Representatives, There is no LONGER talk
~ this kind and 1t may he written down
az a practical certainty that Uncle Joe.
that amia.hlc car" as Representative
Ho pburn termed him. will hr his own
successor ne presiding officer ~ the low
e. branch Of Congress. says the Wash
inston correspondent. OF the New York
Post.
Early in their campaign the republic
can insurgents" had strong nope that
Mr. INT would help them in their night
against the speaker. When 1t became
known that Mt. Taft would keep hands
OF and permit the House 70 choose
sneaker without tho aid or advice Of the
executive branch, tho snti-Cannon cam
paisn vas doomed to failure. Probably
not 70 exceed half q dozen votes Will os
recorded against Mr.. Cannon when tho
republican caucus is held few weeks
renee.
From the start the anti-Cannon men
labored under the handicap of Having
no candidate TO whose support all OF
tive Fowler Of New Jersey was perfect
IL willing to lead tn. movement, but hi.
candidacy for speaker did not command
general support among the insurgents
II f., probable all I've nnti-Cannon men
would he glad to support Representa-
,iv. Hepburn Of Iowa, but Mr. Hepburn
will not Be IN the next Congress. Con-
siderable Independent support would be
given Representative Burton OF Ohio
but Mr Burton spoiled all efforts In his
b-hak by having tho Ohio Legislature
elect him .. Mr.. Torsker's successor in
the Senate.
UNCERTAIN CONGREssMEN.
There are half dozen congressman
or IN. republican sds who 60 not know
exactly what 20 40 about the party cau-
c1. which Ia 70 Re held few day, prior
to tn. meeting OF tho new Congress.
! When the anti-Cannon issue was raised
in Wisconsin, NsHrrska, Kansa. ana
| one or two other ntate,, srne IT the re-
publican candidates for Congress. came
out with bold statements tnat they would
| re.is. to the end the reelection OF the
present speaker. II these members carry
| out this ante-election promise, they VII
have to bolt the republican caucus. Thi'
| would place them outside the breast
works OF their party, and would prob
ably mean the loss Of important commit
tee assignments. The importance Of soot
COMMITTEES places is realized by ever,
congressman who aspires to serve more
than one term. The anti-Csnnor men dt
not exnect 10 he rewarded by the .9eak
I,Air 81 a.
tu, II they bolt the caucus they will no
be- in position to complain II they arr
furnished
Beside losing desirable committee places
boiter from the caucus might lose tn
little patronage which is distributed
ernonx the republicans. Even new
congressman 81 the majority party 4
. entitled TO name doorNee3-r or n 20
l'ceman. These place. are greatly De
,ire6. because the appointee f-eGuen'l,
devotes much o. his spare time TO assist
Ing hts Influence" in clerical capsc
ity. When the dcorkecpers and police
, men ere not on duty many Of them ma
be found in the ONCE OF tho congress,
man who got them their positions. The
address seed labels and document slips
and do other helpful routine politica
work The elective officers OF the Hous
arc nominated In the republican caucu:
, These officers contro! the patronage
/, end, naturally. would not be disposed
, turn over thu p,uIns to congressman list
90 as boilers.
THE HOUSE RULES
, A few weeks ago the republican leat
= ers were hit concerned over ii
y strength shown by the insurgents for II
!, | amendment OF tho House rules. II d.
yeloped that there were two groups
the ins,rgent camp Tie radicals. le