Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-03-18
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WASHINGTON LETTER
by John J. Hannah

| ~ ~ ~ I'LL u
Washington ID. c.. March Is. : Wis
consin was the stealing force which
resulted in the Insurgent force rally
ing in the splendid and courageous fight
which it made against Canonism. If it
had not been for the support which the
delegation from the Badger state gave
and it's refusal to be put to rout at the
most critical moment in the battle it is
probable the Insurgents would have
gone to pieces early last week and the
whole mOvment would have collapsed
Early in the week both sides to the
controversy appealed to President Taft
for support. The Insurgents and the
Organization representatives were at
the White House at the same time.
Mr.. Mann the representative Of the
Speaker was given an interview of
fortyive minutes while Representative
Gardner Nelson and Madison the In
surgent committee was told TO come
back some other time. When they re-
turned they learned that the President
was fearful lest fight upon the Spea-
ker and the rules at this time might
not result in defeat of tariff revision.
| The President said he was more con-
cerned that the pledge of the party to
revise the tariff should be fulfilled than
that the rules of the House should be
revised. He recognized the need of
revision of the rules but thought it
could wait.
This attitude of the President was
like wet blanket to the Insurgents.
They had counted upon active support
or at least an absolutely neutral posi-
| ton from the whitehouse 1t seemed
for few hours as though the move
ment against the rules would go to
pieces.
The Cannon men were jubilant.
They annonced that they were victori-
Gus. What are you to do? This ques
ton was put up to every insurgent.
Il shall vote against the present
rules no matter what may happen"
said Representative Cooper and he
showed his courage by offering the
use of his room as place for the In
surgents from all the states to meet.
Representatives Nelson and Morse
and Cary were equally emphatic.
Representative Lenroot of the new
men said if he was the only insurgent
who would vote against any compro-
mise he would stand alone. Represen-
tative Kopp the other new member
from Wisconsin also kept his courage
up and proclaimed his determination to
stand. All of these and Represen-
tative Esch attended the meeting of
the Insurgents which was held in Mr..
Cooper's room and at which it was de-
termined to fight for more represen-
tative House no matter who stood IN
opposition.
All OF these were in the city when the |
caucus was held except Representative
Esch who had been called home because
of the illness of his father and not one
of them attended the caucus. Repre- |
sentative Kuestermann was also out of |
the city. Representatives Stafford and
Davidson's names do not appear in the
lists of those who did not attend the |
meeting and the names of those who
did attend were not published.
Had Wisconsin weakened at the crit
ical moment it would have been bad for |
insurgency. 1t stood like rock and
made the fight which was made upon
Cannonism possible.
Senator Issac Stephenson was sworn |
in as Senator at the session Monday. |
His credentials were presented by Sen
ator Burrows of Michigan, chairman of
the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
lions. Mr.. Stephenson did not ask Sena-
tor LaFollettee to present his certifi-
cate of election. When he asked Mr.. |
LaFollettee to present the certified |
copies of the legislative record upon
which he wanted to be sworn in March |
4 MT. Lar OlI0tCS WOulu 40 50 Only upon
condition that he make a statement as
co the exact situation in Wisconsin.
This did lot please Mr.. Stephenson.
Senator Aldrich will he d the COM
mittee on committees of the Senate.
The organization is talking of placing
Senator LaFollette at the head of the |
Committee on Census.
Senator LaFollette spoke upon
Primary elections before the Civic |
Forum at New York last Friday night
In his speech he took occasion to re-
pudiate the statement that he had gone
back on the primary election principle.
He said that the trouble in Wisconsin
was not because of the primary law
but because of charges of violation of
the Corrupt Practices Act. He also
said that the Wisconsin law was not
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