The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-15
Wi|I Be One of Most Interest," ing In House for Years
INSURGENTS ARE CONFIDENT
Champ Clark Declared That He Would Have Been Elected Speaker If the "AIlies" Had Had One More
 Week for Preparation.

Washington, March 14-Tomorrow will see one of the most interesting fights that has taken place on the floor of the House of Representatives in a number of years.
 If, as has been the custom, Mr. Dal- zell of Pennsylvania moves the previous question on the motion to adopt for the Sixty-frst Congress the rules of the Sixtieth Congress, the insurgents and the democrats will vote together in an effort to defeat the previous ques- tion's motion. Should they be success full, they will offer resolution provid- ing for the election of rules commit mittee of 15, which will be instructed to report to the House on the first Monday in December a set of rules to be adopted for the Sixty first Congress Speaker Cannon is to appoint the com mittees on ways and means, accounts and mileage for the special session.
 Clark Confident.
 So confident of victory are the "al- lies"-the Insurgents" and the demo- crats-that Champ Clark tonight de- clared he would have been elected speaker of the House if the "allies" had had another week in which to prepare for the fray This assertion was based largely on the fact that various repub- lcans have received a large number of telegrams today from their con- stituents urging them to defeat Can non for speaker It was said by the democrats that many who had thought it impossible to defeat MT. Cannon were encouraged by the vote at the republican caucus last night to renew their fight against him. It is reiter- ated however, by Insurgents" and democrats that the fight will not be made on the speakership. There are indications, however. that former Pres ident Roosevelt will receive compli- mentary vote from some of those who are opposed to Cannon for speaker.
 The democratic leaders tonight claim they will have at least 165 members present tomorrow to vote down the pre- vious question. while they claim that the insurgents have 34 members In line for the fight on the rules.
 May Be Carried In.
 Representative GoIdfogle of New York, who Is suffering from a serious affection of his knee, is determined to be present if his physicians will per init. He will have to be carried to his seat if he attends.
 MT. Clark learned tonight that sew eral democrats who it was feared would not get here, will be on hand.
 Representative Clark of Florida, who IS at Muldoons sanitarium, wired that Representative Currier of New Hamp- shire had promised him that he would be paired
 Representative Legare of South Caro- lima. who has been i'll for some time, is claimed also to be paired with republican member. Champ Clark re- ce1ved telegram today which indi- cates that the successor of Representa- tive Davey of Louisiana will be here with his certificate in time to be sworn in tomorrow. thus giving the democrats an additional and unexpected vote.
 Tho regulars" have been as active today as the Insurgents" and the dem ocrats, and have been lining their forces. They are more reticent about their plans
 Democratic Caucus.
 Much will depend upon the action of the democratic caucus tomorrow. when an effort will be made to have the caucus bind itself to the resolution which the steering committee of the .insurgents'' ana the democratic leaders have com promised upon.
 Representative Fitzgerald of New York. recognized as one of the ablest democratic parlfamentarians, issued a statement to- night in which he opposed the plan to elect committee of 15 to select the va rious committees of the House and de- cared that whatever changes are made fr f11A v1r1n ohn ha teriff bill is taken up as that is the most in portant legislation that has been be- fore the House In IS years.
 Representative Lassiter of Virginia will present a proposition to amend the rules 90 that communication addressed to the speaker and signed by a majority of members of the House, will be considered . matter of highest privilege.
 Wisconsin Politics.
 While the democratic party has been clamoring for years against the rules of the House of Representatives, 1t was not until the Wisconsin school of politics made itself felt at the Capitol that s.ric us attempt had been made to amend them. How completely the Wisconsin delegation Is opposed to the rules was shown when not one of the 10 members from that state attended the republican caucus last night.
 
 Wisconsin members began to denounce the rules from the floor of the House.
 Representative Nelson, a strict disciple of the La Toilette school, in the first session of the Sixtieth Congress, In his maiden speech, demanded a change in the rules
 As the sentiment in Wisconsin grew. the passage of the emergency currency measure over the heads of the commit tee on barking and currency added to the pposition to the rules. Others Joined the ranks and before the adjournment of the last Congress 34 republicans were demand ing changes.
 Compromise Suggested.
 As the fight has approached the day for the organization of the SIxty-first Con- gress, many suggestions of compromise have been heard. One was for a truce fin the fight on the rules until next De- cember The inability to agree as to whether the House or the speaker should select committee to recommend changes in the rules prevented the adoption of the compromise.
 TO the surprise of all, the republican caucus nominated the two republicans