Evening star., 1909-03-12
TAFT SUGGESTS PLAN
White House Conference on
Rules Fight in Congress.
COMMITTEE OF FIFTEEN
Amicable Settlement May Be Reach
ed as a Result.
TELEGRAMS TO ABSENT ONES
Speakers Friends Sanguine That In
surgent Plans Will Fall-Talk
With Congressional Combatants.

With the converting of the specil tariff
session of the SiXty-f1rSt Congress only a
few days ahead, the leaders of the regu-
lar organization forces and of the COM
bined insurgent and democratic strength
were busy today winding up their prepa-
rations for the finish fight on the rules.
Former Representative Watson of In
diana, Speaker Cannon's chief lieutenant
spent today i'll getting in touch, by tele-
graph and long distance telephone, with
those republicans now out of the city
who can be depended upon to stand by
the old guard and resist the advance of
the allies.
These members We're urged to be on
hand tomorrow evening at O'Clock,
when the House republicans will caucus
in the House chamber to fix up the of
fetal slate and the rules program:
Champ Clark the minority floor leader
was engaged in the same labor with ref
erence to democratic absentees. The
democrats have Il little more leeway on
time, their caucus will not be held
until 10 O'Clock Monday morning Just
TWO hours before the House itself is
scheduled to convene.
Presidents Plan for Harmony.
the republican organization in the House
of Representatives have no objection to
the appointment of committee for the
purpose of considering and recommend
ing changes in the rules of that body.
President Taft was told this this morn
Ing by former Representative Watson of
Indiana representing Speaker Cannon.
for this purpose Mr.. Watson made it
plain to the President. however, that the
Speaker would insist upon the privilege of
naming the members of such committee.
This concession by the House leaders
is in the nature of a counter proposition
10 that suggested to President Taft by
the insurgents several days ago. which
was to the effect that q committee of
fifteen. consisting Of FIVE regulars. four
Insurgents and six democrats. be ap-
pointed to revise the rules. The regu-
lars were named-Representativ Mann
Of Illinois, Smith Of Iowa, Stevens of
Minnesota, Currier Of New Hampshire
and Keifer of Ohio.
This proposition was not even consid-
cred by the organization. as on such
committee its representation would be
only one-half that the combined insur-
gent and democratic strength. The Pres
1dent was assured today, however, that
there would be no objection to the ap-
poinfnfent of a committee of five clever
parliaInentarians Of the House to consider
liberalizing and amending the rules, TO
sit during the special session and report
session
in December.
The war on the House side OF the Capi-
fol occupied some of the time of Presi-
dent Taft this morning. He listened TO
reports OF the situation from Spea ker
Cannon and x-Representative Jim
watson. the Speakers righJ-hand man.
The Speaker declined to comment upon
anything except the fine weather. which
he did with a few familiar ejaculative
adjectives as trimmings.
Taft Suggests Committee.
Following the White House conference
announcement was made that President
Taft had suggested to Speaker Cannon
the advisability of appointing COM
mittee of fifteen members to examine
the rules of the House. and TO suggest
changes in them, as compromise which
would be acceptable to the ''insurgents'
The Speaker is said to- be agreeable to
the proposition providing he be allowed
20 appoint the committee
Mr.. Watson was a little more commlni-
cative than Speaker Cannon after leav-
ing the White House. and told the re-
p'rtcrs that the House organization now
has everything going it's WAY and was
fully satisfied with the outlook. When
Mr Watson Was asked whether If il was
rue that a number of democrats in the
House VII decline 10 support the pro-
gram OF Minority Leader Clark i'm ioin-
ing the Insurgents he said that il was
lie Indicated that six to eight demo.
Representative Carlin OF the Alexandria
district OF Virginia is said TO he one of
these.
Democratic Disaffection.
good authority declared today that
The House regulars are relying more upon
disaffections among the democrats than
or falling away by the insurgents as a
result of the Presidents attitude They
have received information thar Champ
Clark will not be able to whip all his
democrats into line. Some of these men
have been strongly favored by Speaker
Cannon I'm the past and they will not iojn
in plans to overthrow him when there is
no possible chance of electin2 a democrat
as his successor
Discussion at Capitol.
There was much discussion at The Cant
toi today over the matter. 1t is known
that eighteen men. Representatives. Gard
ner and Lowering of Massachusetts Muir
dock and Madison of Kansas Hubbard
of Iowa. Morse, Cooper. Nelson. kopp
Cary. Lenro"t and Esch of Wisconsin,
Miller and Davis of Minnesota. Kinkaid
and kinshaw OF Nebraska, Gronna of
North Dakota and Poindexter of Wash
ingtou. attended the conference and that
kilograms promising To vote with the in
sdrSents nave been received from Repre-
sentatives Lindbereh of Minnesota, Nor
riS Of Nebra ka and Hayes of California
who are out of the city.
That would make tNenty-one Insurgents
counting those present last night. plus
the Geographic pledges OF support
But the inSurgent leaders say their ful
strength was not out and still claim a
minimum of twenty eight men who will he
true To the principle of reforming and
lbe! alizinS the rules of the House and
who viii vote that way until the cows
come home next Monday and therea iter
On the other hand the organization
leaders claim to be particularly encour-
aged and delighted as a result of last
nights inSurgent conference.
They could only get together eighteen
men,. they say, and are positive
that all Of those viii not stick together -
Would Get in Bad.
Indeed, IL statements of Speaker Cam
mons lieutenants are to lie believed. only
eleven of the eighteen who gathered last
night pledged themselves fight thc
good fight OUT to n finish. Tie others
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