The Washington times., 1910-03-18
PEN PICTURES OF UNUSUAL HAPPENINGS
WHILE HOUSE FIGHT is IN PROGRESS
Uncle Joe'S Nerve Firm
Throughout Trying
Ordeal.
BY THEODORE H. TILLER.

DI 4lEODOhL AL4~1-IN-
Not since the memorable deadlock OF
the Fiftieth Congress, over the direct
taxation law has the House of Repre-
sentatives been the scene of such q
fight as that waged yesterday and to-
day. without intermission. upon the
question whether or not the dictator
ship OF Joseph G. Cannon should pass
into history and a new regime should
begin.
There was an cIemen: Of tragedy
about II. Napoleon, at Waterloo, never
fought with more valor than ga tire
venerable Speaker of the House and
his faithful lieutenants i'm this seem
ingly last stand.
There was almost a touch of parhoS.
too, when the Speaker. at II O'Clock,
after nearly twelve hours OF continuous
debate, deliCately and rCSCTVcdly hintcd
10 the House that he wished il might
either recess or adjourn. preferably
adjourn" in the interest Of the mOmen-
toUS question at issue. and in the inter
est of the fatigued members who had
struggled through II all
Old Guard on It's Metal.
But the House turned down the plea
Of the Speaker. formally put by Rep
resentative Tawney of Minnesota. and,
BY a vote Of 142 to 1S7. decreed that the
fight should continue. This decree fol-
lowed those Of similar import which
had prevented the House adJcuTninS
earlier in the afternoon ana night.
Hour after hour. as the night turned
into day. did the old guard speak
against time. This was the one thing
that possibly could save Cannon and
CanuOnism. Shortly after the mluniSht
hour, Champ clark, the minority ledc-
e., obtained the floor and said:
with all Difference 10 the Speaker
Of the House, I demand that ne now
T7lle upon the point of order Il ls "A
thing concerning which he must nave
had his mind made up since this de-
bate began, nearly fourteen hours ago.
His refusal % rule demonstrates more
than anything that has been said here
the despotlsm and the Czarism OF the
Speaker OF this House.
Taunt Is Ineffective
The taunt was ineffective and the
House, weary, sleepless, diunerlcss. de
bated on.
Toying neryOusly with his gaveI
scanning the Republican side of the
House where a few hurried3, sum-
mOned recruits from distant cities were
arriving. the Iron Duke of Illinois
! listened 10 this speech and thar speech
of those who sought TO stave off Wha,
( seemed 10 be impending defeat
Men in dress suits, summoned from
dinner parties or from theaterS, moved
about upon the floor Now and then,
following "A ruU call for an adjourn
dress-suit statesman appeared before
| the Speakers desk and asked 10 be re-
| corded. The Speaker was generous
| and, If a man had a reasonable excuse,
| permitted the registering Of his vote.
| II was no time for the display Of pay
/ tisanship or a strict Interpretation Oi
| the House procedure or discipline.
| About o'clock, Speaker Cannon. sum
moning Mr. DalZell to the chair, Slipped
! away TO his room for a rest Al tLis
hour. too. Republicans, facing defeat
/ tired I'm mind and body, sought the Sc
/ cIusiOn Of cI0aIkrOOm and offices. where
/ locked in they tossed upon Leather
/ couches or slept
/ In one of the committee rooms.
! group Of newspaper men found % "reEu
liar" He was stretched upon a lounge
an overcOat thrown loosely over him.
: Don't tel them I am here" he said
= Give the old man chance: let hin
make final stand, although Il seems
his day is done Delay the thing a.
! long as possible
And the newspaper men filed out q,
| return and find a sea Of empty seau
upon the Republican side, resortcd 90 ll
order that no definite action might b
taken in the absence Of a quorum Pre-
vious roll calls had demonstrated tha
/ the DemOcratic-insurgen coalition hat
| the upper hand.
Delay Their Only Hope.
Cannon knew, and Tawuey knew, an
DalzeH knew, that the only hope OF Re
publican salvation hinged upon the pos
sibility Of summOning a few absen
ones, IN the hope that the Democrat
/ would not be successful in Eatherin
their own into the fold in the mean
/ while.
General Kelfer, Of Ohio. the vetera
| Of many a battle, upon the floor Of On
! House and IN actual warfare, was re,
/ CEuiZed by Mr.. Dalzeu, Speaker Or
tempOre. He talked for an hour and
half against time He dealt i'm Teminis
cences. TecOunting House fights owe
the question OF polysamy, free silve
b and the various other issues that hay
confronted legislators since 1872.
! The Democrats and insurgents som
J in the ClOakTOOmS. others enjoying
, pOSt-midniEht lunch iu the TCstauran
! and still others nOddiHE drCwsily
! their seats, permitted him TO talk Ol
Now and then there was a SpoTaI
- outbuTst Of applause on the Republica
| side, now and then a bit of reparte