The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1909-11-19
FRENCH STATES POSITION
EX-Consressman on State and
National Policy.
MAY Be CANDIDATE
Is Against Cannon but Would
Protect Idaho Industries.

Protect Idaho Industries.
Former Congressman Burton L.
French in letter to H. v. Williams,
of Standpoint, which is given to the
press of the state, makes known his
attitude upon the important political
questions Of the day, as follows:
Mr.. H. v. Williams.
Standpoint, Idaho.
Dear Mr.. Williams:-
l am in receipt Of your letter OF the
25th ultinO, asking with regard to
my position on Cannonism, the tariff,
railroad legislation aud waterways,
and absence from Moscow for short
trip has delayed me 10 answering.
l shall give you my position with
out regard to whether or not l shall
be candidate for congress next year.
1t is early yet for much political dis.
cussion touching upon the campaign,
but ii decide to become candidate
before the primaries you may regard
my letter as giving my position on
these questions. The probability is
that shall be a candidate. If l am
not, you may regard my letter as
expressing my personal views.
l am unalterably opposed to the
longer continuation of Mr.. Cannon as
speaker of the house of Representa-
tives. He should have been defeated
the last time, aud would have been
beaten had those who were pledged
to vote against him represented their
promises t. the people. Mr.. Cannon,
in my opinion, does not represent the
sentiment of the masses of the people
of the west, Dor Of any other part of
the country, for that matter, and
Cannonism stands for type of poll
tics that is not at all in harmony
with American ideals. It stands for
selfishness and favoritism to the
individual as against the people
generally, and for policy that means
for the best interest of the especial
. interests" Not with any feeling of
i'll will toward Mr.. Cannon, but after
a few years of service ia the house of
representatives, make this state
ment with the feeling that the
country is not receiving at the speak
er's hands that which it is entitled to
| expect. l say frankly that there il
basis for the severe arraignment of
Mr.. Cannon because of the grave
abuse of the power that has been
| placed in his hands.
How any western man can stand
| for Mr.. Cannon when there is possi-
billty of defeating him passes beyond
my comprehension. In the house,
the speaker has become the car, and
Dever before have honesty and courage
been so basely insulted as 10 the
special session of congress just closed
when men were removed from re
sponsible committee positions because
they had the courage to stand TO
what they believed to be right. ant
when other men we're given politica
preferment because they kissed tn
hand that smote their fellows.
Not only this. but in legislation
the power ot the speaker and HI
coterle is felt. Every member of con
gress can point TO instance afte
instance where the lash was employee
to whip the members into line, an
those who would not be cuerced wer
placed at a disadvantage In matter
of legislation in which their cor
stituents were interested Poindexte
of Washington can tell of this metho
of legislation, and SO eau Fowler
New Jersey, Hill of Connecticu
Parsons and Bennett of New Yorl
Murdock of Kansas. Morse and Let
root of Wisconsin, Gardner of Mass;
chusetts and scores of other menne
) who have had experience in the nous
The rules of the house are suppose
D to be for the purpose OF expeditin
. legislation. So they are. 10 part, b.
in large part they serve the purp0'
of Sitting legislation and make
possible for little or no legislation
! be passed that does not have the a.
proval of the speaker. Should l D
come candidate for congress agar