The Washington times., 1909-12-29
TAFT NOW PLEDGED
AGAINST CANNON
Continued from First Page. !

serious opposition in the House Commit
tee on Interstate and Foreign Com
Tnerce
There is good reason for believing
that a majority of the committee is al
ready committed TO the policy OF "Iet
well enough alone and will oppose any
important changes in existing law.
The President. then. will have tho
support OF the Cannon organization on
the ship subsidy bill. and will not have
that support on postal savings banks
and Sherman law and interstate COM
ncrce law amendments.
When fl becomes apparent that the
pledges for support OF his legislative
program will not he kept, the President.
according 10 those who have been i'm
consultation with him, will make his
first move against Cannon.
Are Awaiting Word.
Waiting for the word from the White
House explains the apparent inactivity Of
the insurgents The President does moi,
want 70 eudsnEer his legislative pro-
gram by fighting the House organization
before his recommendations are sent
10 Congress. and ne wants to give the
House leaders every chance to redeem
their pledges. lie will ultimately he
found on the side of the insurgents and
against Speaker Cannon, but lie will
make that move quicker than he had
originally intended unless he receives
what he regards as fair treatment.
The Presidents promise 20 aid the in
surGeuts in dcposiug Cannon. IL was
learned today. was made during the
trip down the Mississippi river. He
had been besieged on the one hand by
the followers OF Victor Murdoch and
on the other by Speaker Cannon's
trends. The latter persisted i'm ex-
pressing the belief that iuasmuch as
AZ. Taft had given Senator Aidrich
his Endorsement IL would be only fair
20 treat Uncle Joe likewise.
Matter of History.
Tho fact that the President declined
10 do so is now a matter OF history.
Neither did he deal with the insurgents
on the trip as a body. lie did. how
ever, send for a member or the House
who had been prominently identified
with the insurgents mp 90 the close Of
the tariff session. when he became
regular" at the earnest solicitation OF
tne President.
To This member the President volun-
tccrcd the Information ,nat he was In
hearty sympathy with the movement to
ably opposed 10 Cannon, and that he
would oppose his election as Speaker
81 the SiNty-socoud Congress. The
President authorized the member TO
convey his sentiments 20 the insurgents.
accompanied with the suggestion that
Eo would prefer 90 postpone tho tight
until after his legislative program had
had chance
GARDENERS Announcement
There IS good reason for believing
that the President expressed himself iu
like manner to Representative Gardner
ar Massachusetts after his return 10
Washington, which would account for
Garducrs public announcement uat
the iusurEcnt movement should be
abandoned FOR tho time being.
The leaders of tine insurgents are
patiently waiting. They are confident
that the Cannon organization viii not
put through the Presidents legislation
in accordance with mis- wishes. ana they
expect the real fight against Cannon TO
begin an that time.
They feel sure shat the President VIII
make good his promise To- do his utmost
iu oustiuE III" speaker am. for that
reason they will postpone hOstiities
unul after important Legislation is dis
posed Of. In the meantime The in
FUrCcUts viii b. kept in line and addi-
lions 20 the ranks are expected iu sufh-
CieutIy large numbers TO make certain
tic defeat ~ Cannon.