The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-04-27
NO HONOR IN
The INSURGENTS
Promises Made and Pledges Given
are Broken and Betrayed by
Them, at the First
Opportunity
ONLY THREE RELIABLE
Join With Democrats and Throw off
the Mask of Loyalty Which
They Had Been
Wearing.

WASHINGTON, April 27.-Promses
made and pledges given not to be
kept or fulfilled, but to be broken and
betrayed, seems to be the motto of
the republican insurgents in the
house, if their conduct within the past
forty-eight hours means anything
Practically every insurgent has
pledged himself to help President
Taft keep his promises to the people
Of the country in bringing about cer-
tain legislation in congress, but when
the first opportunity was given to
make good, the insurgents lined up
with the democrats and the commerce
court paragraph in the railroad bill
barely got within the lines. Speaker
Cannon voted with the regular repub-
licans In the committee of the whole,
but his vote was not sufficient to
bring victory. Representative Bennett
OF New York, who was presiding. cast
his vote with the regular republicans,
creating tie, and he declared the
Hubbard Gowa) amendment to strike
out the commerce court section lost
The widest enthusiasm, applause and
cheering followed.
The vote of the insurgents is in
terpreted as an indication there is no
dependency in them, that their assur-
ances OF standing solidly for Taft
policies and administration meas
uress, are Of the sounding brass and
tinkling cymbal variety.
Representative Mann, chairman Of
the Interstate commerce committee,
in charge of the railroad bill, was a
little surprised at the opening of the
session when the ship struck a snag
set by the insurgents and solid
minority. 1T is the same old story, =
he said to colleague, you just can't
believe those fellows
Hayes of California, Wood of Iowa
and Fish of New York, leading insurg-
ent republicans, called at the white
house Monday and personally pledged
their support of Taft measures to the
president. There was hint that the
other insurgents likewise would sup
ROlt lHCSC iii &c Qtd hSSp tuc
faith, and to their credit. Leaders of
other wings of the insurgency pre-
viously promised the president they
would help get the administration bills
through. They said they would con
fine their fighting and their display OF
disapproval of the majority's conduc'
In other avenues. President Taft
therefore, had reason to believe his
bills were slated for smooth sailing
The cloak was torn off, revealing
the. utter lack of dependency in in
surgent promises. The commerce
court paragraph was saved to the las
bill by the proverbial hairs breadth
Speaker Cannon saw the situation AM
left his duties in the speakers room
and marched through the teller lines
but did not save the day. That wa
left to Representative Bennett of Ney
York, stalwart. The final vote wa
140 to 1879, the first figure represent
ing democrats and insurgent repul
licans and the latter figure represent
ing regular republicans, including tn
speakers vote. Bennett voted wit
the 139 and tied the vote, and tn
amendment supported by the demo
cratic-insurgent combination was los
The railroad bill may have roug
passage the balance of the weei
Speculation as to the final resul
spelled uncertainty.