Evening star., 1909-03-11
Defections Anticipated When
House Rules Are Voted On.
EXCUSE IN TAFT ATTITUDE
Fear Of Being Cut OFF From Supply
Spigot Entertained.
THAT CONVINCE
Ladder Needed to Help Insurgents
From High Plane Of Principle
into Regular, Camp.

Former Representative Watson of In
diana. Speaker Cannon's chief lieutenant
in the effort to resist the insuigent attack
| on the rules, made an admission this aft
ernoon which shows the seriousness of
the present situation. Mr.. Watson said
that in his opinion the insurgents had
| twenty-five men mailed down." with five
or six others "wobbling."
| Twenty-four republicans. combining
with the democratic strength are suff1-
cient. all the members of the House vot-
| ing. to overturn the House machine.
| Mr.. Watson further said that Presi-
dent Taft and practically all the members
of his cabinet. particularly Frank Hitch
cock. the official pie distributor, were
working as hard as they could to make
it certain that the regulars would pre-
vail. Mr.. Watson said he had no doubt
that the organization would be victori-.
| Gus.
| This announcement by Mr. Watson
sounds to some OF the old-timers around
| the Capitol like an ante-election scare,
Some think 1t Is put out for about the
same reasons.
Some Of the insurgent representatives
|
| ing.
| ITO be or not to be?' they ask them
selves with reference to their attitude
when the adoption Of the rules OF the Six
tieth Congress as the rules of the Sixty
| first Congress Is moved by Representative
Dalzell of Pennsylvania next Monday
few minutes after the special tariff ses-
sion is called to order.
,,l~~
piled usually to those gentlemen whose
superlative caution at the poker table
subjects them to unfavorable comment,
is almost a pure parliamentary expression
nowadays. The Speaker is using it.: his
are using It,
| All of them have in mind but one ap
plication in the impending crisis. VIII
| or will not the insurgents stick to their
rebel craft? Will they fight good fight
And if they lose will they go down with
| band playing and colors flying? Or are
| there traitors in the fo'castle. with white
flags stuffed in their blouses for use In
| case Of emergency?
The situation at the Capitol today was
| reminiscent of the atmosphere of rival
| campaign headquarters on the day be-
| fore a presidential election. The Speaker
| and his forces claim that the insurgents
are already as good as licked The In
1
| the House machine-is about to be
| smashed into smithereens.
Rival Claims Asserted.
The regulars say the insurgents cannot
possibly rally more than nineteen last
| ditchers' to join with the democrats in
overturning the rules, whereas they need
twenty-four The insurgents claim they
have thirty-four OF this variety, more
than a sufficient number.
You pay your money and you take your
| choice.
There appears to be no reasonable doubt
! however, that several insurgents are suf-
fering from chillsome pedal extremites. at
fleast in mild form. But as this disease is
progressive, they are expected to be in
| extremis by Monday next, when the spe-
| cial session convenes.
| Also it appears certain that II a number
of the insurgents could figure out how
they might gracefully turn their coats
! inside out and enlist under the Cannon
| standard they would throw their present
| allegiance to the dogs and join the rsgu-
| lar ranks.
Taft's Attitude Gives Excuse.
| In this connection one insurgent sus-
| gested to an equally rebellious colleague
| to day, in extreme confidence, that-in-
asmuch as President Taft. who ran ahead
Of him Ohe speaking insurgen) in his
own congressional district last November.
was urging that there be no rules now
| in the House at the extra session to de-
lay, even for brief time, the considera-
ton of tariff legislation-he for one has
almost decided that he could afford to
desert the rebel cause. trusting to Mr.
Taft's attitude of sanction to square him
self with his constituency.
1t has been suggested that this argu-
| ment probably will appeal with consider
able force to other insurgents. particn-
| larly those from Kansas and Nebraska
| where Mr.. Taft Is hot favorite. Thev
| figure out that they can explain to their
| constituencies that Mr.. Taft wanted them
to be good. to return to the reservation
and lay down their arms. and that,
from motives of purest patriotism. both
national and party. they felt compelled
to perform as requested.
Then they think they might follow this
| up with a mention of what would have
been their awful fate had they remained
outside the breastworks. away from the
pie counter, out in the cold. cold world,
cut off from the pap supply. neglected.
alone and forgotten.
A regular was arguing with an insurgent
in one OF the committee rooms at the
| Capitol today.
| Said the regular:
Look TO right and left of you. Mr..
| Rebel On one side you see a desert an
| alkali plain. a place bare of verdure.
| without water. peopled only by animals
| that are Stunned and by the bones of
| those unfortunates who. having taken the
| trail leading into this waste. became lost,
| starved to death and never were heard
| from again.
"On the other side what do you see?
| a fertile plain, flowing with milk and
| honey. warmed by the sun Of patronage.
cooled by the dews of favor blessed by
! the breezes of increased place and power.
| Which. Mr.. Rebel-which will you
! chOose?'
Argument Gives Power.
| And the rebel looked until he was cross