The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-15
CHAMP CLARK NAMED
TO OPPOSE CANNON
Minority Caucus Puts Up Man Against Speaker Geor-
gan Refuses to Be Bound But Pledges
Vote to Revision

After one OF the most exciting
caucuses held by a minority OF the
House in many years, Champ Clark Of
Missouri, was today nominated for the
Speakership by the Democrats, and a
resolution was passed. pledging the eau
Gus to stand behind Mr.. Clark, TO fight
for a revision of the rules, and also
pledging the party to insist upon a
committee of fifteen to be elected by
the House as members of the Commit
tee on Rules.
This resolution was introduced by
Representative Underwood Of Alabama.
1t met with opposition from portion
of the Georgia delegation, which offered
substitute asking the insurgents to
vote against Cannon, providing for a
revision of the rules after the tariff
bill is out of the way, and making the
tariff bill open to amendment in each
paragraph.
CHAMP Clark aroused great enthusi-
asm in a speech Grter his nomination,
when he declared that the Democrats
had recently won several notable vic
tories, and that they ware on the eve
OF another one. Mr.. Clayton of Ala
oama' Mr. Bartlett OF Georgia, and Mr.
DE Almond Of Missouri were among
the prominent Democrats who urged
their colleagues to stick by Mr.. Clark
In his fight for revision of the rules.
Excitement Prevails.
There was more than the usual
amount of excitement prevailing when
the 16l Democrats out Of III gathered
in the new caucus room. The five
Georgia Democrats who have a pet
scheme of their own were busy endeav-
oring to gain converts TO their plan.
In brief, it provides that the insurgents
show their good faith in their fight by
voting against Speaker Cannon for re-
election They are free TO vote for who
ever they please, provided it is not
Cannon.
They also want to enable a free dis
cussicn on the tariff bill and to permit
amendments TO every paragraph; to
bring about reformation of the rules
at this session OF Congress, but not
until the tariff bill is out of the way.
The resolution was introduced in the
caucus by Representative Livingston OF
Georgia. and it had the support of four
OF his cOlleagues-Howard, Griggs, Eo-
wards, and Adamson. Bartlett, Lee,
and Hardwick of the same State op-
posed il and declared that the resolu-
ton should not be looked upon as the
product of the Georgia delegation.
Underwoods' Resolution.
Representative Oscar Underwood of
Alabama introduced a resolution which
declared that the present rules give
the Speaker the right TO veto legisla-
ton and prevent it's consideration.
These rules were denounced as making
possible a machine to thwart and de-
stroy the representative character OF
the House The resolution concludes:
I'VE pledge ourselves to support tire
Hon. Champ Clark, leader Of the Dem
ocratic members OF the House in his
effort to overthrow the present arDl-
trary rules of the House and TO adopt
rules that Will enable the majority of
the Representatives in Congress to leg
islate. To accomplish that end we
favor the enlargement of the number
Of members on the Committee on Rules
10 fifteen, TO be elected by the members
OF the House and we favor a thorough
and complete revision Of the rules
Show Much Strength.
The Democrats, contrary TO expecta-
ton, showed surprising strength at the
caucus, there being Of the 172 members
Of the minority who are entitled to
seats in the House, only four were alb
sent These were. Shepard of Texas,
Legare OF South Carolina, Frank Clark
of Florida, and Samuel L. Gilmore of
louisiana, successor to the late Repre-