The Washington times., 1909-09-19
"RUNP" HOUSE PLAN
MEETS APPROVAL
lnSurgent Representatives
Determined to Fight Can
noniSm to End.
BY J. C WELLIvER.

>
composed Of insurgent Republicans;
maintaining its own OF ganizat'on and
even having committees Of it's own;
operating inside. and yet in a way in
dependent Of the House proper; de-
voted 20 independent consideration Of
. legislative business, and to imposing
Independent views upon the House or
Eanization whenever possible-such is
the big scheme on which the leaders
among the House insurgents are quietly
working this summer.
These man have in mind 20 make in
surgency more effective by organizing
IL They propose to hold meetings from
time to time. to develop their own views
on important legislation. to make pro-
grams. and within certain necessary
limits to bind themselves to act as a
unit on legislation. They are counting
On twenty or more members OF their
group. and their organization will have
az It's objects TO make as much trouble
as possible for CannOuism, and to eX-
pose and oppose things in legislation
which they don't approve.
Proposed Last Spring.
This plan was proposed first during
the tariff session. and it met the ap-
proval Of many Of the insurgent Repuo-
licans at that time. In effect. it
amounts TO organizing a third party
within the House; Republican, but
highly Independent as to all matters
which are not party issues. 1t is a pro-
posaI 10 fight caucus with caucus; to
make insurgent caucus a power In the
House; TO cast the insurgent strength
with the Democrats when that, on In
Vestigation, seems the proper course.
and with the regular Republicans when
that IS the decision Of the majority in
this third-group caucus.
BY organization, these insurgents be
heve they can do much TO protect their
individual standing as party people.
Likewise, they are confident that they
can make themselves a power not to he
oesplsed In thu House AS individuals.
nghting IN desultory way against the
Cannon machine. they have demOnstra-
ted that they can nope for little of aC-
complishment AS a compact force.
they believe they can keep the fight go
ing all the time, and can force re-
spectful consideration from both the
Republican regulars and the Democrats.
II there had been any general iegisla-
ton before Congress at the recent spe-
Clal session. the organization prQha bIV
would have been effected and set 20
work then. BIT there was nothing for
II 20 work on. so the actual crganiza-
ton was postponed until the long ses-
sion. The plan is by far the most am
=
thus far been brought forward.
Good System of Working.
Briefly. this ''rump'' house would dt-
vide up the legislative domain, assign
ing certain parts OF the work 10 certain
committees. The members OF these
committees would be assigned 10 follow
hearings and make Investigations con-
corning certain features Of legislation.
For instance, # the Naval Affairs Com
mlttee has proposition to build four
battleships. AMI "a reOrganize the sys-
tenn Of handling the navy yards. the
"rump' committee on naval affairs
would follow the regular Naval Commit
tees hearings. gather iii the inEorma-
ton possible. and work out a program
as 20 the whole naval business, which
would be laid before the caucus OF the
"rump' House.
If the regular naval committee APP
proved three battleships, and the
'rump' navy watchdOgs thought one
was right. the caucus Of the "rump"
would sit on the matter and decide by
majority vote what program 10 support.
Then the "Tump' naval committee
would organize for fight, and when
the naval appropriation bill came before
r. the House would proceed. willy nilIv
IL get into the fighting. a phalanx OF
twenty Off-Republicans, voting under
their caucus agreeL rent against a rule
for consideration of :, bill, might with
Democratic assistance and such outside
Republican support as they could at
tract TO their standard. be able to re-
tect rules and open big subjects 70 real
discussion. Then would come OppOr-
tunity for debate and amendment
This project is understood 70 owe it's
TO Representative Hubbard, Of
Iowa. He IS one Of the veteran in
surgents; he got the insurgent habit long
before IL became so popular in the West
as Il IS now and, like most Of the
insurgents, ne has back Of him a dis
trict that is willing to give its indorse-
ment 20 the most effective Plan Of cam
palRn. whatever that may be. Mr.
Hubbard. like other insurgents, viii
nave no regular committee duties OF
such OnerOus character as to interfere /
seriously with the business Of the
rump'' organization. Speaker Cannon. /
In making up his committee list. took
care to make sure of that. The insur-
gents viii have 70 make trouble some
now, II they would have occupation. for !
they haven't any important regular du-
ties under the organization.
Strength Is Apparent.
Two years ago. or even year ago. |
the suggestion OF an insurgent caucus |
and n binding insurgents by caucus /
vote. would have been utterly prepos- |
ferrous. There was only their common /
antagonism to the house rules 20 hold /
the insurgents together. On other mat /
tiers they had not yet even thought Of /
effort az united action But the tariff |
session drew them closer together and |
made them rea lie the possibilities OF I
united effort Beyond that. certain ten /
denotes to read them out Of the party /
gave zest to the proposal of hanging to- |
gcther as an alternative to the POSSIBLE |
ity Of hanging separately.
The result was that. long before the /
end Of the tariff session, the idea Of an /
iusurgent cauCus-bound organization |
had gained much favor. The work OF /
the little group Of Senate Republicans |
who made themselves famous by stick
ing together clear down TO the end. was
inspiring 90 the House insurrectos. II
that could be done 10 the Senate so eff
rules. Of course. make 10 more difficult
In the House: but there is more or
less chance TO talk in the House, and