The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1910-03-19
CANNON'S FATE
IN The BALANCE
Sway Of "House Gar" May
End Any Moment.
REGULARS FEAR THE TEST

t'Otu tHc OPpSt Hduo anu sNC Ed9Si
for a Decisive Trial of Strength
Assured That Speaker Cannon viii
Tender Resignation If Norris Reso.
luton Is, Adopted.
Washington, March 19-Without the
votes to defeat his enemies and with
his foes in conference with the regu-
lars endeavoring to arrive at an ar
rangement for the enlargement of the
committee on rules to fifteen, with the
elimination of the speaker as a con-
dition, Uncle Joe" Cannon is still
nominally ruler of the house of repre-
sentatives.
But it appears that at any moment
the sway of the house czar may be
summarily terminated The insurgents
and Democrats, flushed with the sue
cess of their long filibuster, are eager
for decisive test of strength and are
boldly predicting the downfall of the
machine" which has long dominated
the house and the making of its rules.
The election of Minority Leader
Champ Clark as speaker is seriously
considered by some regular Republic
ans. They say they would follow a
Democrat in preference 70 Republic
| an who defies the majority Of his
party. This course would be contin.
gent upon defeat of the organization
In the present crisis.
Speaker Cannon May Resign.
From one of the most intimate
| friends of the speaker came the some
| what startling statement that II the
Norris resolution was adopted Speak
er Cannon would resign and that the
regulars would vote with the Demo
Gratis for the election of Champ Clark
as speaker rather than side with the
insurgents in selection This state
ment was denied by other friends oi
the speaker.
Every minute of the day added tc
the great weariness of the members
| who had been In the thick of the com
bat for many consecutive hours. De
lection was written on the faces OF
many of the regular Republican lead
ers and it was plain that they believed
they were in hopeless and permanent
minority in the house and at best were
only prolonging inevitable dethrone
ment.
While the deadlock In the house still
continued insurgent Republicans Sc
lected Messrs. Gardner (Mass.), Hayes
(Cal), Lenroot (Wis.), and Norris
(Neb.). to meet similar representa-
tion from the regulars to arrange fol
an enlargement of the rules commit
tee to ten or fifteen members. with
the elimination of the speaker.
No Definite Decision Reached.
The conference was held in Repre-
sentative Gardner's room. The dras
tic step of deposing Speaker Cannon
for his long continued failure to rule
on the point of order was discussed
but no definite decision reached.
j The insurgents came from the con
ference In sullen but determined frame
OF minds. Representative Underwood
of the Democrats stated that tht
! move to depose the speaker might bs
!, made. Until the speaker consents tt
rule on the admission OF the Norri:
resolution as privileged business 1t II
difIicult to see how a motion to GUS
the speaker or dismiss the sergeant
, alarms can be introduced.
II Insurgent Republicans say the con
! ference was the direct outcome %
} overtures from the existing rules com
mittee, made through Representative
Dalxell of Pennsylvania.
u The speakers opponents say thu
!. rules committee has given them as
surance that a rule will be brought il
| for the enlargement of that body
The rule, which the insurgents ex
psct the rules committee will agree Il
bring in, would provide for amendinl
d the rules along the lines Of the Norri
resolution, but eliminating the group
! and making the members Of the com
!. mittee elective by the house.
II Conservative Counsel Prevails.
The conference In Mr.. Gardner
q room was presided over by Represer
! tative Hayes Of California. Some Q
n those present, satisfied by their prof
I pect OF victory, we're inclined towar
I the most radical procedure. but NOR
conservative counsel prevailed. Th
latter element argued that the exae
number on the committee was nc
t vital, provided the enlargement wa
Q substantial The rule as brought
D may provide for committee Of min
. or ten members, six Of them to b
Republicans selected by Republics
i caucus and the others to be Dem
Q erats. The question Of Aimmadiai
/ deposition OF the speaker from Il
committee was brought ~ A4d .