Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-22
in HOUSE PLAN
OWN ORGANIZATION FOR
EFFECTIVE WORK.
TO BE REPUBLICAN, BUT
INTENSELY INDEPENDENT
Leaders Believe Insurgents Can Be-
come Power and Force considera-
ton = Committees Will Investi-
gate Features of Proposed Lesisla-
tion-Plan Originated by Hubbard.
Especial correspondence.l

Washington, Sept. "a trump"
house of representatives, composed of
insurgent republicans; maintaining its
own organization and even having
committees of its own; operating inside
and yet in a way Independent of the
house proper; devoted to independent
consideration of legislative business,
ard to imposing independent views up
on the house organization whenever
possible; such is the big scheme on
Which the leaders among the house In
surgents are quietly working this sum-
ner.
These men have in mind to make IN
surgency more effective by organizing
ii. They propose to hold meetings
from time to time, to devefop their own
views on important legislation. to make
programs. and within certain necessary
limits to bind themselves to act as a
unit on legislation. They are counting
on twenty or more members of their
group. and their organization will have
as its objects to make as much trouble
as possible for Cannonisrn, and to OK
pose and oppose things in legislation
which they don't approve.
Republican But Independent.
This plan was first proposed during
the tariff session. and it met the APP
prevail of many of the insurgent re-
publicans at that time. In effect. it
amounts to organizing a third party
within the house; republican. but high
~ independent as to all matters which
are not party issues. 1t is a proposal
to fight caucus with caucus; to make
the. insurgent caucus a power in the
house; to cast the insurgent strength
with the democrats when that, on IN
Nestigation, seems the proper course,
and with the regular republicans when
that is the decision of the majority IN
this third-group caucus.
BY organization, these insurgents be-
lieve they can do much to protect their
| individual standing as party people.
Likewise. they are confident that they
can make themselves power not 20
be despised in the house. AS individ-
uals. fighting in a desultory way
against the Cannon machine. they
have demonstrated that they can hope
for little of accomplishment. AS a com
pact force. they believe they can keep
the fight going all the time. and can
force respectful consideration from
both the republican regulars and The
democrats.
Would Divide Legislative Domain.
If there had been any general legis-
/ lation before congress at the recent
special session, the organization would
probably have been effected and set at
work then. But there was nothing for
No loa ,a1 nj i'm
ton was postponed till the long ses-
sion. The plan is by far the most am
bilious project in insurgency that has
thus far been brought forw ID.
Briefly, this trump" house would
divide up the legislative domain. as
signing certain parts of the work to
certain committees. The members of
these committees would be assigned
to follow hearings and make investi-
cations concerning certain features of
legislation. For instance, if the naval
affairs committee has a proposition to
build four battleships, and to reor-
game the system of handling the navy
yards, the "rump'' committee on naval
affairs would follow the regular naval
committees hearings, gather all the in
formation possible, and work out a
program as 10 the WnOle naval DuS-
mess, which would be laid before the
caucus of the trump" house.
If tie regular naval committee APP
proved three battleships. and the
trump" navy watch dogs thought one
was right, the caucus of the trump"
would sit on the matter and decide by
majority vote what program to sup
port Then the trump" naval commit
tee would organize for a fight, AMI
when the naval appropriation bill came
i before the house would proceed, willy
nilly. to get into the fighting. A pha-
lanx of twenty odd republicans, vot-
ing under their caucus agreement
against a rule for consideration of a
bill, might, with democratic assistance
and such outside republican support
as they could attract to their standard,
be able to reject rules and open big
subjects to rEal discussion. Then would
come opportunity for debate and
amendment; for making this minority,
in short, on close questions the decid-
ing influence
Hubbard the Originator.
This project is understood to owe
its initiation to Representative Hub
bard Of Iowa. He is one of the veteran
insurgents; he got the insurgent ha Bit
long before it became SO popular in the
west as it is now, and like most OF
tie insurgents he has back Of him g
district that is willing to give it's in
dorsement to the most effective plar
of campaign, whatever that may be
Mr.. Hubbard, like other insurgents
will have nc regular committee duties