The Washington herald., 1910-03-22
DEMOCRATS and Cannonism.

"The one hope OF the Democrats lay
N a prolongation of the Republican
feud What they have done TO termi-
nate it is so much TO their confusion
and discontinue. New York sun.
It was great fun and much excitement
while It Iasted-the attempted slaughterlng
OF Uncle Joe" to make a Roman holi-
day-but now. in the cold gray dawn of
the morning after. how does it look from
the Democratic point OF view?
Significance attaches TO this comment
in the New York Tribune. which has
stood for reform in the system of House
government
The Republican party VIII profit most from this
change. bat a generous degree Of credit should he
given 10 the Democrats party for assisting without
hope Of profit in breaking down an odi0us system
and removing dangerous popIlar complaint lodged
against its Republican rival
Republican prospects vii be greatly advanced BY
the elimination Of the issue Of Camouism Few
Of the Speakers supporters really believed IN
the methods which he applied. but subscribed 70
them for policy's sake. There can be general re
alignment now behind system Of giving greater
play 70 undergraduates and individuality. The wounds
dur to the Rules Committee fight ought TO be soon
forgotten"
Somehow, this has a decidedly reminis-
cent ring. II was praisewOrthy. no doubt.
from the standpoint of genuine states
manship. for the patriotic. ever obliging
Democracy to launder this Republican
soiled linen. BY giving its support to a
minority of the majority party OF the
House, the Democracy exploded the
bugaboo OF "Cannonism," cleared the at
mosphere for the Republicans. and has
had a torrid old time doing it, Of course,
But-there are so often inconvenient
'buts"-as the New York Tribune. good
old Republican organ that It Is, so per
suasively says. Republican prospects
WIN be greatly advanced by the eliml-
nation Of the issue Of 'Cannonism,' " and
so on Republican prospects, Pros
poets OF what? Why OF carrying the
next House Of Representatives, to be
sure-thanks TO the ever obllging Democ-
Tacy aforesaid.
Did the House Democracy delude itself
with the idea that the Insurgents" would
hold to the alliance 20 the point Of GUST
ing Mr.. Cannon and electing. say. Mr..
Champ Clark Speaker? cat least two
Democratic papers of the South that we
have in mind thought SOD Oh, perhaps
not-and yet, We have an idea that the
Democrats Of the House hardly expected
their allies to vote to retain Uncle Joe, d"
even shorn Of much of his power
And read this editorial expression from
the Philadelphia Public Ledger:
Instead OF bokliug aloof and allowing the Rspub-
ncans IN fight their own battles they fought the in
sgents' hattie for them and helped them 10 eztin-
ggsh the very 0fense that was counted On as cam
paign Issue % help che Democrats In the elections
for the new Congress
In .'Cannonism deceptive issue that It
was-the Democrats had something upon
which TO appeal TO the country. Having
themselves eliminated It, however, along
goes much OF their most effective cam
paign thunder with It. Upon what issue
are they TO appeal now? The tariff?
Angels and ministers Of grace defend
theml
They may win the next House in spite Of
themselves-probabiy VIII The country
IS in state of unrest: discomfort is ram
pant If the Democrats cannot pull through
on their own merits. they may yet pull
through on 1uke. A week ago It
was big odds that the next House would
be Democratic. Even now the odds are
that way, but they are not so large
The party has an ancient reputation for
having elections won six months before
election day and losing them when the
Showdown comes
In the meantime, that rock-ribbed old
Democratic sheet, the Macon (Ga.) Tele-
graph. says:
IL Is rather discoEagipg to see the historic old
Demooatic party made often the cracker u a Re
publican factions whip. These insurgents protest
thar they are better Republicans than Cannon.
II they doWn Cannon they rsorgaulze the Republican
Iarty On better and stronger basis. and Iuupor-
tioaately the Denocratio party IS weakened II the
Democrats win keep their hands of, Cannon viii
drive the insurgents who represent a very large
element q Rupublican voters into the Democratic
party There is nowhere else for them TO 90. But
Il the Democrats help the insurgents to save them
selves. they win help the Republican PARTY to save
itself. The DgmOcmtio uarty has performed this
gewsone act for its old enemy several times before
The Telegraph cannot enthuse over Mr.. Champ
Clarks valiant ATTEMPTS to lend moral aid and the
material votes Of the Democratic party to save
the Republican party from its own efforts at dis
solution; and that is what is meant b. amputatins
'Cannonisn and giving life and health to the other
Republican faction"
And that, brethren, in the cold gray
dawn Of the morning after. is about the
size OF il!