Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-19
BY Ralph Smith

WASHINGTON. ID. c. March 1.-THE
action of the Georgia delegation last Sat
urday with reference TO the coalition OF
the Democrats with the "insurgent' Re
publicans was the subject OF much COM
ment about the hotels. and in the wash
fngton newspapers on Sunday. The talk
among the Democratic congress-the regu-
lars-was not complimentary concerning
the proposal signed by Representatives
Livingston. Howard, Griggs' EDWARDS anu
He hes. and while their purposes nor mo-
tfVes were questioned it was asserted gen
orally that they were playing into the
hands OF the Republicans.
The truth about the fight between the
Democrats and "insurgent' Republicans,
on the one side and Speaker Cannon and
his cohorts on the other, may never be
written In full, because it involves many
apparent facts. which. If charged could
not be proved. For instance was re-
peatedly charged that Democrats were
approached by friends of the speaker with
the suggestion that they would he taken
care Of IL they would not align them
selves with the "insurgent" Republicans.
IL was even stated that Democrats hold
ing good committee places were threaten
ed with the loss OF them If they opposed
Cannon's program, while Democrats hold
ing undesirable committee assignments
anything they wanted IL they would
do the right thing"
What the Post Said
But to return to the caucus Of the Geor-
gia delegation: Here is what the Wash
ington Post of last Sunday morning had
TO saw OF the action of the five who
signed the proposal:
by a vote Of five to two, the Georgia
delegation in the house yesterday adopted
a petition TO the Democratic caucus or
Monday that was regarded as highly
significant. The other four representa-
tiAes from &c orgia are out of the city.
'sThe petition asked the Democrats be-
fore entering into an agreement with the
Republican insurgents. to bind the lat
ter to three policies. One was TO vote
against Mr.. Cannon for speaker until his
successor is elected. Another was to join
with the Democrats in providing for free
deRate and the privilege of offering
amendments on the floor of the house to
every schedule Of the tariff bill.
A committee, consisting of Representa-
tives Howard. Brantley and Livingston
presented the petition to Minority Leader
Clark. Il was denied that the five Geor-
xia Democrats would bolt the Democratic
caucus IL their suggestions were not
adopted.
The action of the Georgians in this re-
gard comes very near being exactly what
the insurgents have been afraid of for
three days The insurgents have all along
been certain OF their own membership,
and events have borne them out They
now declare, not without misgiving, that
they have reached the point where the
responsibility rests on the Democrats.
There are 81 insurgents in line, and If the
Democrats do their part, victory is GER
that. But the Democrats have a tradi-
ton against keeping in line, and the
speaker and his advisers are playing on
this weakness to the utmost.
Committee assignments undoubtedly
play a large part in the chickering's that
have been going on between the speaker
and the Democratic individuals, but that
kind of trading is so obvious that re-
course was gladly had to the tariff when
il presented itself. Promises are being
made in many quarters that for support
OF the organization, the Democrats in
question will be favored in regard to GER
tain schedules on which they want pro-
lection. With that offer giving a work
ing basis igor negotiations. il remained to
find some way by which the Democrats
could utilize il without bringing down
too much obloquy on themselves.
BY the insurgents the action OF
the Georgians is taken as Indicative
of a desire to put forward such i'm
possible demands that even their COL
leagues will not accede to them, thus
giving them an excuse for breaking
over TO the organization. The demand
of the Georgians, for instance, that
the insurgents back mp a demand for
! free amendment on the tariff bill, is
one altogether aside from the ques'
ton at issue.
WASHINGTON. ID. c, March l5.-lt Il
sl5 O'Clock in the morning, and William