The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-08-19
MIDDLE west
TO ORGANIZE
IN CONGRESS
A Coalition Similar 10 That
Which Exists in New Eng
land Planned
ALOR|CH MONETARY REPORT
WILL Be FIRST OBJECTION

Cannon's Method Of Disciplining His
Opponents Has Brought Them All
Together-Comnhttees Strengthened
for Fsvorite Measures in House.
Washington, Aug. 19.-1n the opin-
ion Of prominent western Republic
can congressman the outgrowth OF
the tactics pursued by Senator AID
rich in passing the tariff bill and of
Speaker Cannon in Furnishing the
house insurgents in his committee as
signments will be the organization In
congress Of the middle western menl-
bers after the manner of the organ.
ization which binds the New England
members together. In his Judgment
the middle westerners must choose q
leader and back him up With their
votes
The recent notable utterances by
representatives Of both parties indi-
cate that this is the channel into
which middle western political
thought is turning. In speech at
the Seattle exposition Gov. johnson
Of Minnesota declared the time had
arrived when the middle west must
organise and assert its rights in con-
gress, and Senator Dolliver Of Iowa
before leaving Washington author
lied statement to the effect that
"the voice of the middle west had
been heard in Washington IN tariff
Legislation for the first time during
my twenty years here" =
Must Represent Constituents.
In discussing such action the west
erner indicated that 1t was now neces-
sary for the middle west to c'tabiish
standards OF legislative action for its
congressman to which their constitu.
Lents could force them to adhere. He
pointed out tho unity OF the six sen.
ators and twenty-eight representatives
from New England or practically ev.
cry issue raised on important legis-
lation ia recent years, including the
railroad rate bill, pure food law and
tariff bill.
"The middle west is the only Sec
tion of this country" he said, where
the members Of congress are not
UeSA0oO sO6CIACA AO1 Ino 6cu0Idl 6VOu
of the whole. It is supposedly un-
statesmanlike to be too provincial In
congress and yet It ia only necessary
to look at the tariff bill to see that
provincialism. after all. dominates
the acts Of congress. It is outrag-
eous that the great agricultural sec.
tion in the Mississippi valley should
be compelled to accept those tariff
rates on its food products and raw
materials which the manufacturing
and stock raising sections choose to
fix.
"The remedy, in my mind, is organ
izatiOn. The middle west can hold
the balance of power In congress, II It
will organize. and It can control pres
idential elections when its prOpsgau.
da is extended to other western states
which are ready to receive II. Such
rank discrimination and such tactics
as we have seen employed In con-
gress against the middle west in the
past three months have done more to
hasten such an organization than any
plan which could possibly have been
devised"
Opposition to Leaders Cemented.
1t is strongly indicated in wash
ington that the net resul. Of tho last
session of congress has been to ANAL
gamate the opposition in both houses
to the recognized Republican leaders,
Senator Aldrich and Speaker Cannon.
Members are already looking forward
to next winter. when. they anticipate.
the Taft policies and the report Of the
upon congress-. The latter legisla.
.tion is looked upon as Aldrich legis-
lation and already there is specula.
tion as to the. probable lineup for
and against It. Recently progress
sive western senator vas talking with
a colleague when the following con-
versation ensued:
what are you going to do. next
winter when Aldrtch brings In his
monetary legislatlon?"
Il am inclined to support It,"
4 well, don't go home and tell your
constituents SO IL you want to come
back to the senate" was the reply.
House Insurgents Suffer.
Speaker Cannon's punishment of
the insurgents In the house, was ex-
IFSHc, TepoI0 " Lu0 contrary uOts
withstanding. There is hardly Re-
publican insurgent from the middle
west who did not lose his high rank.
ing on one or more committees and
several of them lost chairmanships.
Practically none was promoted. The
effect Of this punishment, It is ex-
pected, will be to cement the exist.
Ing opposition to the speaker, which
does not need many accessions to :ls
strength to upset the Republican or
ganisation In the house.
There will be no election " speaker
when congress convenes and p-esum-
ably the house leaders regard the
house rules as intact for the next two
years. Certainly the Democrats who
assisted the speaker to defeat the 81
tempt to amend the rules this spring
could III afford to go back On the Re-