The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-01-15
Cannon FOR PEACE
Says Insurgents viii 60l
Square Deal in Caucus.
THEY SUSPECT A TRAP
Quarrel Between Republican Regu'
lars and Opponents in Congress
Is Near a Decisive Issue.
Taft For Peace.

Washington. Jan. 14.-Speaker Can
non declared that the insurgents OF
the house would have square deal
In the coming Republican caucus, ii
they came into 1t. There was no effort
In advance by anybody. he said. to set
a trap or pitfall for those of the ma
ioritv who have been fighting the or
ganizatton. but on the other hand, nc
one could properly be given any def
mite assurance or promise as to what
the outcome of the caucus would be.
Every one of the two hundred and
more Republicans in the house would
be hidden and they should attend, said
the speaker.
The caucus will be held probably
early next week. and II Is understood
that Il is to be made the basis for an
attempted Cancellation between the
house insurgents and the regular Re
publlcans. How this may be brought
about is not yet apparent.
Insurgents Suspect Trick.
The insurgents. or a majority Of
them. are chary of walking up to some
thing that might turn out Ito be load
ed" as one expressed IT, Speaker Can
non said there would be no effort in
the caucus to punish anybody for what
might be termed past misdeeds. but
that every Republican representative
should come to the caucus and take
pot luck" on the result. Whatever the
majority finally determined upon
should be accepted by those who dis.
agreed.
The caucus Is for the naming Of the
committee to investigate the Ballinger
Pinchot affair Upon this rock the
regulars and the insurgents either will
be at least temporarily cemented in
some degree of harmony. or the
breach between them will have been
irreparably widened.
The most vigorous efforts that have
been made since congress convened to
bring about peace between the antag
onistic elements in the house were
made Thursday.
Taft al Work For Peace.
President Taft played an important
part in the negotiations for peace. but
the nature and extent of them. as well
as the degree of success which has at
tended the attempt was not disclosed.
Representative Hayes. Of California,
acting on his own initiative. IL is stat
ed. made a call on President Taft. at
which the insurgent situation was dis
cussed at length When Mr. Hayes re-
turned to the house he talked with
twenty or more of the insurgents re-
garding what he had discussed with
the president. Mr. Hayes returned to
the White House later and talked with
the president again. presumably ex-
planning the attitude of his insurgent
brethren regarding the presidents
views.
The entire subject at this time cen
tiers around the naming by the house
of the committee to Investigate the
Ballinger-Pinchota affair and the Repub-
lican caucus which is in prospect for
that purpose. Whether the insurgents
will enter the caucus or not, and II
so. upon what understanding. is the
question.
The insurgents insist that all they
desire in the whole Ballinger-Pinchot
matter is the naming OF a fair com
mittee which will go to the bottom OF
the whole business. revealing what it
may and returning an honest v0dict.
They insist that the naming OF this
committee should be accomplished In
such a way as to command for it the
full confidence Of the people of the
country. The insurgents are making |
no effort to have any OF their number
put upon the committee.