The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-28
Insurgents Prepare TO Force
the Speaker Into Private Life
If Within Their Power
KANSAS CITY SPEECH
RILtS THE INSURGENTS
Primary Effort of Republican Party
viii Be TO Keep the Middle West
In Line and Prevent Party
Losses In Elections.

Washington, November 27.--tSpecial)--
Former Representative Lacey of Iowa.
a strong anti-Cummins man. discussed
with President Taft today the western
political situation and especially with
refence to the activities OF the so-called
insurgents and the attitude of Speaker
Cannon toward them.
"All efforts to dissatisfy tho farmers
and others who are prospering in the
west by the insurgents will fail" said
Mr.. Lacey. THE people out In my Sec
ton are thoroughly in accord with Speak
er Cannon and they are living IN hn era
of prosperity unprecedented n. the his
tory of the middle westtefnbst
The Iowa republicans Will r Sem
ators Doliiver and Cummn90kA e CON
gressional election next fall. SS 'fesenta-
tive Serene e. Payne. repuraAan floor
leader, believes that Speaker, s1thon will
win in his hght against the Insurgents
in the House and continue to dominate
legislation.
Il have never seen the speaker run
away from a fight YET said Mr. Payne.
smiiingly. and the outcome Is certain
IL there is fight"
we want no fight within the republican
ranks" said Victor Murdoch, represents
tive from Kansas. and leading insurgent
I'VE are republicans and Cannon cam
not read US out of the party. We will
be republicans when Cannon Is forced to
retire from public life, which Will take
place early next spring.
Petition viii Be Prepared.
"As soon as Congress opens we will
circulate petition among all republicans
asking for signatures demanding of Cam
non recognition for republican to pre-
sent a resolution creating a committee
to revise the House rules II we cannot
get majority of republicans to sign this
petition we viii turn to the democrats
for help The fight is and will be
waged to the end.
Speaker Cannon's speech at Kansas
City in which he first disclaimed purpose
to read the republican mid-western in
surgents out OF the party, later extended
to them q vigorous invitation to get out
and finally wound up by declaring they
would have to be fought just as Bryan
must be fought, Is accepted as the def
mite taking up of the gage of battle
Il do not intend to carry on this dis
cussion through interviews. said Sem
ator Cummins. "At the proper time and
in the proper way. | shall have some-
thing to say: but 1t is not possible to
make statement that would do justice
to the situation In an interview"
The senator will make in Iowa the fight
for the nomination of progressive repub-
licans for Congress In every district the
coming year. But he will support the
they are republicans.
Through the West
That the same contest viii be made
throughout the whole west is the expec-
tation and the understanding OF all the
progressive leaders. They characterize
the Cannon speech of last night as tho
boldest and most open pronouncement OF
a rule or ruin policy that has yet come
from him.
"Of COURSE said an insurgent. "the
speaker cannot either drive people out
of the republican party or induce them
to accept his invitation to get out They
are going to stay In to fight for control
OF 1t. They believe the country is with
them and they are going to give It a
chance to make its choice between the
two views of q proper public policy as
represented in the record and programme
of Cannon and on the other hand in the
record and programme OF tho insur-
gents.'
The immediate effect on the lesislatiye
plan of the coming session of Congress.
of having this fight precipitated in such
form III the subject of some difference
of opinion. Some public men venture to-
day the opinion that the Cannon speeches
apparently designed to embitter both
sides OF the factionL line, will have the
effect Of putting an end to all hope of
legislative accomplishment Senator Cum
Minis inclined to the other view, sug-
gesting the possibility that Speaker Can
type of thought In both House and Sen
ate are Just now sedulously endeavorina
to interpose the President between them
selves and the wrath OF the people. In
the line of effort they may find it the
part OF good policy to assist in getting
fair consideration for the Presidents
programme
Turn to the South
One OF the most amazing developments
OF the recent discussion Is the belief in
Senate quarters which are commonly sup
posed to be In touch with administration
sentiment, that II is going to be neces-
sary for the administration presently to
give up hope Of the middle west and turn
to the south In the hope of recouping with
gains from the democracy there the losses
in the west The progressives are unable
to believe that such a thing can be con-
templated as a serious party policy. They
point out that any programme which
would cost the republican party the mid
die west would surely lose Il also the
heretofore doubtful states and bring utter
defeat