The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-01-25
LEADERS SLEEP
AT THE SWITCH
Democrats Give TaWney The
Scare Of Ills Life.

-----------+--------~-
Republican Members Of House Leave
Chamber Under Impression That
Minority Intended to Caucus, When
Without Warning Lloyd Tenders
Resignation aa Member Of Ballineer
Commission and Suggestion is Made
That House Can Fill Vacancy.
Washington, Jan. 21.--Republican
members of the house were nearly
caught asleep at the switch when the
Democrats, by what Representative
1Tawney Of Minnesota calls q shabby
trick" came within an ace Uf put.
ting one over the plate on
them. The Republicans are mad
clear through and say that never,
never, no never again. will they be
bland and trusting with the minority.
1t is only fair to the Democrats to
say that their leaders deny that any
double-cross was intended. Here is
the sad tale:
Early in the session Representative
Champ Clark &C Missouri, the minor
ity leader, strolled over 10 where Rep
resentative Tawney was steering the
urgent deficiency bill on a somewhat
troublous passage through the house.
Jimmie" he said, win you kindly
choke this little measure to death
about 4 p. m. so that the Democrats
may caucus in this sanctified hall and
find out where they are at?" a
Sure" said Mr.. Tawney. So Mr..
Tawney informed all Republicans who
had business elsewhere, and that
maent them all, that they might dis
connect themselves from the house
for the rest Of the afternoon without
fear Of the consequences. And most
OF them did.
Tawney suggests Adjournment.
Along about 4:30 Mr.. Tawney
moved that the committee of the
whole rise. and when this had been
accomplished he got ready to suggest
an immediate adjournment. He mo-
ttoed that the solid Democratic
strength was seated on the minority
side, and that only q corporals guard
surrounded him, but he didn't pay any
attention. knowing that the Demo
Gratis were about to caucus and re-
membering he had told his own folks
they could go But he nearly dropped
with establishment when Representa-
tive Lloyd OF Missouri. who was Sc
lected by the Republican caucus to
serve on the Ballinger.Pinchot COM
mittee in place of Representative
Rainey OF Illinois, bounced out of his
chair and asked that his resignation
from the committee be read. Mr..
Tawney objected In a voice that
could be heard about four blocks.
Mad clear through at what he con.
sidered a breach of faith, he made
the point that no officer of the house
had authority to accept any such
resignation, and only the committee
itself or possibly the chairman could
do this. A- AVE- f-~
Representative Underwood of Ala
bama, the Democratic whip, argued
suavely that It was the custom of the
house to permit members of Its COM
mittees to retire for good and suffl-
cent reasons, and that in this case
the house could fill the vacancy.
Speaker Cannon, who had been
sparring for time while this was 60
ing on, ruled that the Lloyd state
ment could be read, and 1t was.
Here 1t TX II hereby request to be
excused from service on the joint
committee to investigate the interior
department" ,lB HJfHH
,I klefer Gets In Game.
Representative Tawney, who was IN
charge Of things Republican. moved
adjournment, but the motion, as the
Republicans were in Il hopeless mi
nority, was lost. Then Mr.. Tawney,
fighting against the trouble that he
saw ahead for his side, moved that
the house go back into committee Of
the whole and take up the urgency
deficiency bill again. This too was
lost. Mr.. Lloyd wanted to talk, and
various members were yelling mo
quorum" and Representative Kiefer
of Ohio, the only living dress-suit
statesman. was shouting for the regu-
lar order. Again Mr.. Tawney moved
adjournment and again he was
howled down. a
About this time the Democrats be-
gan to realize that they were making
themselves unpopular. Republicans
were beginning to arrive In the cham
ber on the run and pages and clerks
and majority employees were scooting
here, there and everywhere, gather
ing in the absentees. eg4
Then Representative Underwood Of