The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-12-08
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 8, 1909.
BUSY SESSION OF CONGRESS,

The first regular session of the
sixty.frst congress promises to fur.
nish entertainment to the general
public, az we'll as the enactment OF
desirable legislation. II there 10 good
foundation forlgossip that is current
in political circles, the session will
witness one of the most interesting
fights on record.
1t is announced by democratic news
papers and politicians that the minor.
ity party 10 the house Of representa-.
tives, with the assistance of . number
OF so.called 'insurgent" republican
members, proposes to humiliate Speak
er Cannon by curtailing his powers or
removing him from his present infu-
entail position. These threats appear
to have little effect upon "Uncle Joe,"
who boasted in q recent speech that he
''has turned his back upon a
friend, or his face from an enemy"
and it is presumed he will maintain
that record in the threatened contest
with his political opponents.
The belligerent attitude of MI. Can.
non will assist in holding together the
support he already controls, and will
probably win that Of other republican
members who are disposed to desert
their psrtyIlorganization. The fight
against Speaker Cannon has seldom
been equaled in persistence and bit.
terness, and.hissrepulse Of former At.
tacks seems to have increased the
hostility of tpolitical influences that
have sought to throw him down.
Maligned and misrepresented by the
democratic;spress and assailed by
several members of his own party
who resented what they regarded 90
unfair treatment, Speaker Cannon has
won out on:former occasions and may
survive the terrific onslaught which
the present political combination is
preparing to'make.
Most of the malicious criticism of
Speaker Cannon N from demo-
cratic sources, and is part Of the game
of politics .NThe animosity of "insur-
gent" republicans may be traced to
personal matters which they consider
sufficient cause for the revolt against
party discipline. The combination
againstithe speaker consists of demo-
cratic politicians, who are working
for the success of their own party,
and a number of republican ~"kickers"
who consider their personal views OF
more Importance than those of q ma
jority of their party.
The bitter fight upon the speaker of
the house Is not q novelty in political
affairs at the capital. 1t will be re.
membered that Thomas B. Reed, who
initiated the present methods of par.
liamentary proceedings in the house
OF representatives, was the target OF
abuse that would have appalled, an
ordinary man. He vas denounced as
q "czar" who usurped the functions
of congress, who was striving for q
one'man power ove legislation of all
kinds, and whose Office would become
of greater influence than that OF the
president. Speaker Reed survived
the attacks of his critics, and lived to
BEE the adoption of his methods by his
democratic successor to the speaker.
ship.
In addition to the attack upon
Speaker Cannon, there also promises
to be something doing in the matter OF
legislation at this session Of congress.
Most Of the members, seeking re.
election next November, will desire to
make good report of their steward.
ship, and will %endeavor to secure the
enactment of legislation that will meri,
the appreciation of their constituents