New-York tribune., 1909-03-10
FIGHT ON HOUSE RULES
LEADERS OF BOTH SIDES
SEE MR. TAFT AGAIN.
Presidents Sympathy zcith Insur-
gents, although He Keeps Neutral
Democratic WMps Busy.


Washington March 9-The life and death
struggle between the insurgents and the or
ganizatiOn in the House constitutes the cheA
topic of discussion among politicians in WASH
ingtOn, and to-day. yesterday, the centre oi
the fight has been at the White House the
President is still seeking to preserve neutral
attitude, but while he will take no part IN tue
contest his very neutrality is helping the organ
ization and his refusal to deny the assertions so
emphatically put forth by the "Cannon1tes
that he is with them is of material assistance
TO them.
There is no doubt that the sympathy OF the
President is with the insurgents. on the other
hand he realizes the disastrous effect which
prolonged struggle over the rules followed oy
disorganization and obstacles TO the expeditions
passage of the tariff bill. would have on the
country, and he is therefore unwilling TO take
sides, but is ready to listen to representations
of both parties to the contest.
The President had two conferences to-day with
ex- Representative James Watson. of Indiana
who has remained in Washington to help the
Speaker line up the regular Republicans.
The insurgent steering committee, consisting
Of Representatives Gardner. of Massachusetts; g;
Nelson. of Wisconsin, and Madison. of Kansas
was cIoseted with the President for more than
an hour this afternoon. Its members made their
last appeal for his support and afterward eX-
pressed great confidence that Mr.. Taft would
preserve a neutral attitude in the matter, al
though they insisted that he in favor Of
change in the rules.
The insurgents committee told the President
that if the rules were revised the tariff bill would
not be delayed more than twenty-four hours.
They assured him that the present Ways and
Means Committee would be left intact II the
committee on committees appointed, and
they also declared that any legislation desired
by the President would be prepared by the same
committees which now exist II was their de-
sire to quiet Mr. Taft's fear that a change In
rules at this time would mean state Of dis
organization In the House. They also pointed out
that no matter which side won, the insurgents
could not hope TO he benefited by better com
Tnittees as they would be only a scant minority
Of the Republicans in the House and could not
accomplish any notifications not desired by the
bulk Of the organization.
on leaving the White House Mt. Gardner said
that the President intended 10 give further con-
sideration 10 the matter, and that he had ex-
pressed himself as favoring a change Of rules
at an opportune time. That time. Mr Gardner
believes has come. and he is confident that he
has converted Mr.. Taft 10 this opinion. The
other two insurgents are equally confident that
they have Induced MT Taft TO preserve neutral
attitude in case he does not TO aid them
in the fight. They admit, however, that II he
expresses an opinion favorable to either side, TO
tnaU side viii come success. Mr.. Madison said
that they had enough new members pledged 20
overthrow the rules by majority OF four votes
with the probability Of two more In case they
were necessary.
The report that Mr.. Taft had decided 10 up
hold the organization gained great credence this
morning. but that assertion is hardly borne out
by the facts
Representative Victor Murdock. Of Kansas
who has attacked the Speaker In the magazines
from the lecture platform and at every oppor-
tunity in the House is the most active OF the
insurgents IN seeing the new members. He Wis
tied every committee room where OF these
recruits was likely 10 be found to-day and to-
night After checking Up his list. he contented
himself with the remark that it would be a
close fight.
The Democratic leaders are busy pedging the
members OF the minority to be present the
opening day and vote with the insurgents. A
strong tendency to discover important business
elsewhere has begun to manifest itself in the
Democratic ranks and notwithstanding the fact
that Democrats have been bowling against the
rules for years. II would not be surprising II al
least u dozen Of them remained away from the
Capitol while the vote being taken.