Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-13
Chieftains Making Count and Mar.
shaling Their Forces.
UNCLE JOE AT WHITE HOUSE
Speaker Cannon and Vice President
Sherman Confer With Executive.
Make No Comment.


talk. even of the superheated variety.
The organization claims victory. So
do the insurgents. But both sides decline
| today to talk figures. They content them
selves with saying 1--WE will win'' and
then they go to work again.
Former Representative Watson of In
diana, who has been working for the or
ganization with his coat off ever since
the Sixtieth Congress adjourned. today
took up his headquarters in the room at
the south end of the House corridOr-the
Speakers old room-and had dozen or
more members of the House as aids and
assistant whips rushing around bringing
in to him, SO that they might be put on
record all members who have been lying
low, or who have been out of town during
the recess, and who are now showing up
around the Capitol preliminary to the re-
publican caucus at o'clock this evening.
Watson Says eve Cannot Lose"
Mr.. Watson who heretofore has frankly
discussed the situation. freely admitting
it's danger, but claiming that careful
toll of the House has demonstrated that
the organization will prevail, hardly had
time TO talk to newspa permen.
There has been no change in the sit
uation today" he said. in reply to ques-
tons. land it is my belief that we cam
not lose"
Practically the same statement, only to
the reverse effect, was made at insurgent
and democratic headquarters. Both sides
actively and insistently claim victory. and
the insurgent republicans and the demo-
Gratis profess to believe that the proceed
ings of the caucus tonight, taken in con-
nection with the number of republicans
who remain away from the caucus aito-
gether, will demonstrate that the machine
is about to break down and will come to
full stop Monday.
1t is anticipated by the insurgents that
those Of them who vote for Speaker Can
non for reelection as presiding officer of
the House will be just firm in resisting
the rules. Representative Lowering of
Massachusetts is one of them. He will
vote for Speaker Cannon, but all the
Establishments of the organization have
been futile SO far as inducing him to
change his attitude on the rules is con-
cerned.
Iowa Against Speaker Cannon.
The insurgents did a good deal today
to bolster up several members Of the
Iowa delegation. who at first were con-
fidently counted as insurrectionaries, but
who lately have shown signs of a desire
| to get back on the reservation. This
brace was in the form of a telegram from
Attorney General BSers of Iowa to Sen
ator Cummins of that state, making the
statement that the sentiment of the peo-
pie of Iowa is decidedly against the re-
election Of "Uncle joe Cannon as
Speaker. The telegram closed with the
words: Feeling is very ugly
The insurgents are having many copies
of the telegram made and seeing to
it that all insurgents get one and that
the particular force of the message is
brought home to the wavering members
of the Iowa delegation.
The hard work that is being done is not
confined to the regulars. The insurgent
chieftains are laboring to hold their men
in line, not anticipating any recruits at
this late day and the democratic leaders
have progressed sufficiently far with their
poll to enable them to make, with ap-
parent candor, the statement that Mon
dag every democrat who Is able to get
here-and that means only one absentee,
Representative Eegare of South Caro-
lima who is ill-will be in his seat pre-
pared to vote with the insurgents for the
defeat Of the House machine.
Modified Compromise Proposition.
A modified proposition for the compro-
mise of the differences between Speaker
Cannon and the insurgents of the House
Of Representatives was discussed at the
White House today. OF those who called
to see President Taft today, exRepresent-
alive Watson is most closely identified
with the war between the insurgent men,
bers and the domination of Mr.. Cannon
and the present rules.
Although Mr.. Watson's term as MEM
Der of Congress expired March 4. he re-
NAMED i'm Washington at the special re-
Of Sneaker Cannon holm him in
the defensive campaign against the House
insurgents The proposition which was
discussed between President Taft and Mr..
Watson this morning is little different
| from the compromise scheme which was
preached two or three days ago. but
which first became known to the public
yesterday.
The latest plan of settlement is that the
House proceed to organize next Monday
by the reelection of Speaker Cannon and
| by the adoption of the present rules.
| Then a committee of fifteen members is
to be appointed by the Speaker, the COM
mittee to be composed of republicans of
both factions and of democrats. the in
| surgent republicans to be well repre-
sented.'' This committee. according to
the proposition now under discussion is
to consider changes in the House organi-
| Zation and rules, and is to report to the
| House June J. This proposition differs
from the compromise proposition of yes
terday in that it provides for an earlier
report by the committee. The former
proposition was that the report should
not be made until the regular session of
| Congress next December.
! 1t was made clear by Mr. Watson to-
| day that Mr.. Cannon had not accepted
| the latest proposition, and the scheme is,
| therefore. in a tentative stage at present.
| Both Speaker Cannon and Mr. Watson
express confidence that the House will be
| organized for the special session next
| week by the friends of the Speaker and
| the old committee on rules.
"Uncle Joe" at White House.
| Mr. Watson called attention to what he
calls an object lesson of the House Or
ganiZation.
| The business people of the country will
soon find out what the House organza-
| ton MEANS he said. I'VE will put
| through tariff bill smoothly and prompt
| ly and then it will go to the Senate, where
| it Is within the power of the democrats
| to hold it up four or five months, while
| the business of the country is In a state OF
| unrest"
| Vice President Sherman and Speaker
| Cannon were in conference about fifty
minutes with President Taft today on the
| situation in the House. The Vice Presi-
dent hurried away in his automobile to
| catch the 1 o'clock train for New York.
and Speaker Cannon left shortly after
ward In his big automobile for the Capitol
to resume the fight against the insurgents.
| Speaker Cannon declared that any state
ment concerning the conference would