The Detroit times., 1909-03-15

WASHINGTON, March 15.-The
special session OF the sixty-frst con-
gress, called primarily for the revis-
ion of the tariff. convenes today. As
predicted, Speaker Cannon was renom-
mated, by the caucus Saturday night,
the insurgents saying they had no
grievance against him but that they
were fighting the rules. Rep. Muir
dock. OF Kansas. declared today that
the Insurgents would vote down the
previous question and the proposal to
be presented by the steering commit
tee of the insurgents would be
adopted. The caucus Saturday night
pledged its members to vote for the
adoption by the incoming house OF the
rules that governed the house during
the last session. Rep. Mckinley, OF
Illinois, declared that fully IL OF the
"a members absent from Saturday
nights caucus would support the Can
nonites when the vote on the pre-
vious question is taken today.
scongress prepared To convene to-
day, the entire interest was TO wheth-
er Speaker Cannon would be able to
retain his grasp upon house proceed
ure.
Without the present rules the Re-
publicans fear that they will not be
able TO get the Payne tariff measure
through the house without prolonged
debate. To aid in expediting this spe-
cial legislation President Taft has
sided with the speaker In his fight.
The caucus Saturday night was
called to order by Rep. Loudenslager.
Of New Jersey, secretary Of the last
caucus. Rep. VIM. A. Rodenburg. or
Illinois, was recognized, and spoke OF
the proud privilege OF presenting a
candidate for speaker when indiyid-
ual initiative is assailed by the dis
cordant and destructive forces OF So
cialism.'
Coming to the mention of Mr.. Can
mons name, Rep. R6denburg said: IL
linois is Justly proud of her disting-
uished son. We are proud OF him be-
cause in all the dicissitudes OF pub
lie life, in the storm and stress and
strife OF political combat, In the sun
shine of victory and In the shadow OF
defeat, he has stood four squares TO
all the winds that blow. His very
name is a synonym for integrity. |
nominate for speaker OF the sixty-first
congress the iron duke OF American
JOStpH ". Sdhuou
Speaker Cannon. responding 10 the
demand for a speech, said:
we have before US a most difficult
session. Tariff Legislation Is In class
by itself and from the standpoint or
practical legislation presents more diff
ficult problems than any other kind
OF legislation. | will bring with II Pc
culiar difficulties and unusual tempta-
tons
while We must regard with solic-
itous care the interests OF the people
we represent individually, we must on
the other hand keep constantly In
mind that our first >duty is to the
United States as Il whole, that its rev.
enues may be sufficient for Its needs
and that its industrial life may con-
tinue to flourish in the future. under
our care, as 1t has fourished in the
past under the distinguished men who
have preceded us as trustees under the
constitution.
The wisdom OF those who have pre-
coded us I'm this house has left Us a
system OF rules the most efficient that
ever guided a legislative body AS
large as the house OF representatives.
Fvery step In making those rules eff
ficient was resisted bitterly, and the
men who stood up for the rules were
misrepresented by every interest ar
fected by their action and criticised
by a large army OF innocent victims
OF Misrepresentation. But misrepre'
sentation dies with the day. Now
those men so much criticised then are
commended on every hand. while a
new brood OF misrepresentation
arouses new criticism against those
who today continue the work OF the
past These things will also pass
away, and when present misunder-
standings have died away We also
shall have the commentator OF the
future IL only We remain true TO our
selves and to our trust"