The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-17
CANNON IN 4 RAGE OVER
 DEFEAT ON THE RULES
Democrats Believe Speaker Is Trying to Get Revenge for the Action of the Insurgents, Who Beat Him
 With Democratic Aid.
By WATTERsoN sTEALEY.

Washington, March 16.- (Special.)- Speaker Cannon today ignored the dem ocratlc party in the House and broke the precedent of several years standing of allowing the democratic leader to name the minority members of committees. He not only did this, but he threw salt into the wound by appointing to the demo- cratic vacancies on the ways and means committee and rules committee men who are absolutely objectionable to Champ Clark and his democratic following. Rep resentative Clark had asked the speaker several weeks ago to place Representa- tive Ollie James of Kentucky on the ways and means committee. Although there were two vacancies the speaker declined to do so. He named Representative Broussard of Louisiana and Representa- tive Burton Harrison of New York. For the rules committee he named Represent ative Fitzgerald of New York and placed with him the minority leader, Represent ative Clark.
 Not only Is MT. Broussard objectionable because of his siding with the House ganization yesterday, but his protection proclivities simply make of him an addi- tional vote for the republicans in the tar if plans. MT. Broussard is a protectonist and it is not unlikely that he will be
 
 will be shown in the Payne bill to be reported to the House by the chairman of the committee tomorrow. MT Harri- son also voted with the republicans yes- terday against the democratic organiza- tion.
 Fitzgerald Suspected.
 Representative Fitzgerald was in al- liance with, the organization yesterday and every democratic member believes had an arrangement with the republican organization by which he should offer the resolution which was supported by the House republicans in order to save them from defeat.
 The speaker in all instances turned down Mir CiarlSs recommendations and sentative James of Kentucky asad other .4z-ssi derIoLratE going on the important committees. The result is that with the exception of MT. Clark. himself Repre- sentative Underwood of Alabama and few more of this character who were appointed, the democratic minority is purposely and unfairly weakened.
 Speaker Cannon Is in a rage. His ad- herents claim that the amendments to the rules of yesterday are meaningless, but 1t is nevertheless fact that the speaker keenly resents the interference, slight thought it may be, that the demo- crat-insurgent coalition caused in the House arrangement of procedure and he Is out for revenge. He took the first step today, cutting the power of the mi- nority on the committees to the bone.
 Poor Show for Democrats.
 As an example. with MT. Fitzgerald on the rules committee, Of the five mem bers only one can be classed as a dem ocrat. that Is MT. Clark. Of the 19 members of the ways and means com mittee only five members can be depend- ed upon to sign the minority report from the committee.
 The only encouraging feature the demo- crats find in the whole affair is the be- lief that public sentiment will side with them. Throughout the country there is undoubtedly a feeling of resentment against the manner of doing business in the House and combined with the fact that the speaker has now acted in a man ner obviously unfair ought not to injure the party's chances in the next congress sionai election.