Evening star., 1909-03-06
TO ELECT NEW SPEAKER
May Name Him Provided They
Choose a Republican.
ovERTUREs C0LDLY RECEIVED
Told They Will Not Be Treated With
Except as Converts to
Democracy.

Some of the insurgents of the House
are said to be trying on a new scheme
to upset the House organization and
rules in the new Congress. They have
proposed to the democrats to combine
with them, amend the rules to suit d
majority Of this combination and to
allow the democrats to select the Speak
er Of the House-provided they choose
a republican.
Whereat there are loud shouts of de-
rision from the democrats. The spec
tacle Of Champ Clark, the minority
leader. standing up and looking over the
little group of republican insurgents for
a successor to Speaker Cannon. and then
swinging into line his solid phalanx of
the unterrified democracy of the House
to make the selection good. somehow
fails to appeal to the democratic mind.
"It would be "a sight for gods and
men, said a democrat today. but not
an edifying one, for any democrat who
had more political sense than the emblem
of our party WHICH a contemptuous ma
jority has picked out for us. 1t wouldn't
be even donkey sense, let alone horse
sense"
This democrat went on to say that when
the tempters laid out this program they
received a cold reception.
No" was the reply, 'if you insurgents
are dissatisfied with your party, and have
deep-seated cause for offense, do as those
brave republicans did at st. Louis in 1896.
when they walked out of the republican
national convention because of refusal to
accept the gold plank in the platform.
Invited to Become Democrats.
Come across, and we will welcome you
with open arms. kill the fatted calf and
array you in robes of honor. Then YOU
can sit down. and while disposing of the
veal, talk over the speakership election.
You will be as welcome as the flowers of
spring.
But you will have to come across first.
1t is pretty cheeky proposition for a
score of you discontented republicans 10
expect the entire democratic membership
to pull your chestnuts out of the fire. En-
cuse us If you please.
To return to the suggested spectacle of
Champ Clark looking over the InSurgent
camp for a likely candidate for Speaker
to be supported by the democrats. whom
would he see? Well. there would be first
and foremost. Mr.. Garner of Massachu-
setts He might. with due hesitation and
blush of modesty. yield to the stern de-
mand of duty and consent to serve. II
properly approached. Failing him. there
would be these to choose from: Cooper,
Wisconsin; Cary, Davis, Esch. Fowler,
Gronna Haugen. Hayes. HinShaW, Hub
bard. Kincaid. Lindbergh. Lowering. Mad
ison Morse AIurdock, Nelson, Norris,
SteenersOn, Volstead and Lenroot. Total,
%
Not Enough to Elect.
There are 11o democrats in the next
House and Hl9 republicans. \ majority
OF the House will be 106. SO that if all the
democrats and all the insurgents stood
! pat. there would not be enough TO elect
an insurgent Speaker.
The intention of the insurgents as to
| the republican caucus has not yet been
disclosed. If they go into the caucus
| they will be expected to stand by The
| party organization in adopting the rules
| If they bolt the caucus and vote with
| the democrats in open House TO upset
| the rules their position for the remainder
of the Congress Will be descrlpap pie a
being between the dell and the deep blue
sea. They will be neither fish, flesh,
! fowl nor good red herring.
There is no doubt. however. that there
will be trouble with the insurgents be-
| fore the game is over. They are desper-
ate. and it is declared will not hesitate
| to slip an ace under the table to the
democrats if they get chance. TheS
| are very crestfallen over the detection oi
| some of their erstwhile membership
! whom they declare to have made sWaI
| for a mess of pottage in that ttede foI
| the calendar day maze Win tIle or
| ganiZa ton leaders.
Organization Leaders Patient.
| The attitude of the organization leaders
is not one of turbulence. however. in thi:
| situation They are exercising infinite
patience and consideration, it is claimed
in dealing with their protesting brethren
| They insist that they have shown prac
t;coI disposition in a practical manner