The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-05
Progressive Republicans viii
Demand Revision
FIGHT AGAINST CANNON
Insurgent Republicans Are Preparing
to Fight Cannon to = Finish and
Put Him Back on the Floor
of the House.
BY wArTERsoN sTEALEv.

BY WATTERsoN sTEALEY.
Washington, December Especial y
Representative Davis OF Minnesota, one
of the most radical of the progressive,
declares that there must be revision of
some of tho schedules of the tariff be-
fore the end Of the sixty-nrst Congress
If the western representation Is to be
kept in line for the party. The progress
sives made their fight for genuine down
ward revision during the special session
on general principles because they be-
lieved 1t was right and in the interest
of their constituents. Now they come
back to Washington after spending
months with constituents, stronger than
ever in their attitude. They come now
with the express command of their con-
stituents to obain real downward re-
vision of some of. the more flagrantly un-
just schedules, such as those relating to
sugar, woolens and cottons.
President Taft's famous Winona speech
in which he defended the tariff bill and
Representative Tawney, the member of
the Minnesota delegation who voted for
It, Mr.. Davis says. intensified the de-
mand for real revision. In that speech
the President declared the wooden sched-
ule was not satisfactory to himself, but
the woolen interests were SO intrenched
that 1t had been found impossible to
obtain better one. The very fact that
the wooden interests are SO powerful is
proof to the western men that the time
has come for a finish fight with them
and the eurtailment OF sofne of Vie out
rageous advantages they now ENJOY un-
der tbs tariff.
Representative Davis predicts that the
strength OF the western demand for a
| reopening of the schedules will be SO in
sistent In the next few months that ac-
tion will be forced at this winters long
session or the short session of next
spring.
What Cannonism Is.
Representative Victor Murdoch of Kan
sas, leader OF the insurgents in the
House, took occasion today to disagree
with Speaker Cannon over the latter's
diagnosis of 'Cannonsm." In reply TO
Speaker Cannon's statement that Can
nonism was Reedism. Carliseism, Crisp
ism and Hendersonism Mr.. Murdock said
that "Cannonism'' is the mildest form
in this.
"Cannonism' is the concentration of
the power of the representative body into
the hands of one man, to the end that he
may defeat popular desire by the pro-
cess of delay, the device of the pigeon
hole. refusal of consideration, denial of
hearing and all the legislative tricks
which are inimical to the genius of pop
ular government and offensive to the
spirit of progress.
Its administration is scornful Of pop
ular opinion and contemptuous Of public
wish.
mo insurgent has ever sought change
in the rules of the House that would
lead to the obstruction of business. The
whole idea is for the expedition of pub
lie affairs, and the only desire Is to take
away from the speaker not only his pre-
rogative for preserving order and dis
patching business legislation, but his
power over the persons and convictions
of representatives.
The protest is against the attitude
of the speaker which would cut the be-
liefs of the members of Congress to mt
the irregularity of his own caprices.
Representative Murdock said that
Speaker Cannon grows more arrogant
with time, and that the only way to
eliminate "Cannonism' and change the
rules so as to allow fairness to all ia
to relegate Cannon to the floor Of the
House"
Work For Congress.
the right Of way at both ends of the cap
itol. The appropriations committee OF
the House has been at work for more than
a week. When. the appropriation bills
have been disposed of Congress will turn
it's attention to more interesting. II not
more important measures. Here are some
of the things Congress will find ready
at hand to work on:
Changes in the railway laws, giving
added power to the interstate commerce
commission.
trust act, exempting labor unions from
penalties for combination.
Subyentions for the upbuilding of the
merchant marine and extension OF the
ocean mail service
Authorization to railroads to pool under
strict supervision of the interstate COM
merce commission.
Legislation regulating the boycott and
the issuance of injunction against la
Dor organisations.
International waterway improvements.
according to the policy outlined by tho
President In his recent addresses in the
south and west.
A proposal to reduce the tax on oleo-
margarine
An investigation of the sugar trust
scandal will be introduced or may be
undertaken.
Lively Session Is Expected.
Every person here is looking forward
to lively session. Friction between
Speaker Cannon and the insurgents is ex-
pected to develop as soon as the gavel
falls. The insurgents are rampant and
determined for troublef while Mr.. Cannon,
judging from his recent speeches in the
west. has no idea OF side-stepping.
In the Senate things also will be lively,
il present signs count for anything Sem
ator Cumnins Of Iowa is in town primed
for battle and LaFollette of Wisconsin.
Bristow of Kansas and other insurgent
leaders are also on the ground ready
for the fray On all sides, therefore. the
outlook Is bright for some ''scrappy"
times in both houses during the coming
winter and spring