The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1910-04-07
Confident That They viii Be In
Control of Sixty-Second
Congress.
REPUBLICANS SMILE AT CLAIM
Declare Opponents by 5lunder De-
stroyed Their Best lssue--Arlzona
and New Mexico Putting For
ward Strong Claims for
Statehood.

III DecemDeT, 1911. Inc regular ne
publicans say that the Democrats
committed tactical blunder when
they allied themselves with the insur-
gents in the effort to defeat what had
come to be known as Cannonism. The
old-time regulars declare that the
because they helped in the effort to
put out of existence the issue which
the minority party was depending up
on to help to elect its candidate for
the house of representatives at the
next election.
The Democrats retort that they
made no mistake, because they have
shown the country positively that
when they come into power they will
not countenance a rules committee
which will have the power to obstruct
legislation which the country is anx-
ious to have passed. The leading
Democrats declare that the evidence
has been so strong of revolt through
out the country against house pro-
cedure, as 1t has been the rule recent
ly, that they will gain just as many
votes by taking the field early against
Cannonism as they would If they had
put off their opposition until the days
Of actual campaigning before the peo-
pie.
Democrats Are Confident.
In the ranks of the Democracy in
the house, however, the feeling that
victory is to come next November is
so strong that even now there is dis
cussion as to what Democrat shall
succeed Mr.. Cannon in the speaker
ship. Champ Clark is the leader of
the minority, and as a matter of nat
ural course it is to be supposed that
he will be chosen speaker, but never
theless. there are other Democrats In
the house who have ambitions, and 1t
is perfectly true. as some of the party
admit, that there has been some op-
position to Mr.. Clark's methods of pro
cedure as leader.
Among the Democrats who are
known to have at least latent speaker
ship ambitions are Ollie M. James of
Marion. Kentucky. who has been in
the service of the house for seven
years; Swager Shirley of the same
state. whose term of service has BEEN
coincident with that of Mr.. James;
Oscar M. Underwood of Birmingham,
Alabama, who has been a member of
congress for Is years. and John Jo-
seph Fitzgerald of Brooklyn, New
York who has been house member
for IL years.
Clark In the Lead.
1t seems to be practically assured,
however, that If the Democrats do
succeed in carrying the next house,
they will elect Champ Clark of Mis-
souri, as the speaker Not all the
Democrats are in favor of Mr.. Clark.
No matter what opposition may be
shown to the Missouri members can
didacy in the caucus, the party ma
Jority will carry the day and it seems
that almost undoubtedly Mr.. Clark
will be chosen to take the chief seat
in the next congress now occupied
by Mr.. Cannon-provided, of course,
that the hopes of the Democracy are
fulfilled and that victory comes to
them next November. The Democrats
in their high hopes not only are talk
ing about the speakership succession,
but actually are looking at the choice
committee places with a view to de-
termining what chairmanships are to
fall to the lot of the men who stood
by Leader Clark through the tumult
and the fighting.
Chance for Personal Bills.
With the enlarged rules com.
mittee of the house of repre-
sentatiyes which has just come into
legal being as result of the revolt
of the allied insurgents and Demo
Gratis there may be greater opportu-
nifty offered for the passage of what
are known as personal bills. In the
course of congress there are intro
duced hundreds of measures, in addi-
ton to pension bills. and of these only
small percentage ever received the
support of committee report, let
alone being given the privilege of ac-
tual discussion in the house with a
view to passage.
1t has been the complaint in the
past that the men who were in a po-
sition of power either on the rules
committee or because of close person
al and political affiliations with the
speaker, were the ones who were able
to secure the uninterrupted passage
of measures which were of particular
interest to their districts The non
influential member who had bill
which his constituents were demand
ing had difficulty at times in securing
the sanction of the house authorities
for its passage. The enlarged rules
committee perhaps will be more CON
siderate of the legislative desires Of
the less Influential congressman.
There are bound to be on the COM
nittee, either IN the majority or the
minority representation. q man or two