The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-02
Only Six, However, Declare
Openly In Favor of
Old Regime.
ISSUE RECOGNIZED
AS PARAMOUNT ONE
Most Of RepreSentatiyes-eleCt Are
ROncommittal or Else Fail
TO Say Anything.
By JUDSON C. wELLIvER.

VIII Champ Clark, Speaker, name
the committees Of the next House OF
Representative, OF VIII they be named
by a Committee On COMMITTEES, sub
jeet to the approval Of the House?
That is the big. imminent, pregnant
question IN national Democratic anairs-
the House OF Representative They
have a year to think about It, and from
the present uncertainty Of their minds.
it IS fair 20 say that they viii need the
year Seldom have personal interest.
ambition, desire f0f power and eager
Dess TO play good politics Preoipitated
50 difficult a question, or made such in
sistent demands for its answer.
Right OF wrong, the country seems 10
believe that the Democrats are commit
ted 70 the program Of taking the com
nalttee appointing power away from the
Speaker There are Democrats who in
sist now that the verdict OF the rscsr.
elections was against Cannon. not Car
nonism; but there Is rac1zins, grievors
uncertainty whether the couurry feels
that way about It
without exception. Democrats who
come to Washington in these last d.
before the opening Of the Conzress s=s-
sion talk Of their victory in the late
campaign with reference 70 its effect on
the Presidential campaign two years
hence Some OF them-uost Of then
insist that it means that the Democrats
VII elect the next President Others
qualify their confidence with the
reservation that If they make good
with the country the Democrats viii
elect the next President And there are
not wanting those who insist that II the
Democrats do not give definite evidence
Of their capacity TO produce what the
country wants, then they win meet de-
feat IN 1912.
Need Aid In Senate
Having captured the House Of Reure-
sentatives, the Democrats VIII have the
power to initiate tariff and revenue
! legislation They cannot force If into
the statutes unless they can secure CO
l operation OF a minority Of Republicans
in the Senate The practical political
question with Democrats, therefore. IS.
/ How can We accomplish most Of what
the country demands while We are yet
in control only OF the popular branch
of the National Congress?''
This statement Of the case forces at
tentioa to those possible accomplish
ments which may be wrought by the
House alone; and chief Of these. ii every
discussion OF the subject. Is the effective
reform Of the House rules so as TO make
that body honestly responsive and re-
spOnsible TO the viii Of its majority In
short viii the rules Of the House be
amended so that the Democratic Speak
er VIII be shorn Of those powers which
have caused a succession Of Republican
Speakers TO be denominated as czars2
That is the large problem which the
Democratic House has on its hands.
The Speaker having already been re-
moved from the Rules Committee, ana
that committee having been enlarged
I from five to nine members, the chief re-
naming aspect of the problem relates
to taking from the Speaker the power
TO name the committees Of the House.
This has been widely represented. and
/ is extensively believed, to be the basis
( Of the real command OF the Speaker
! over legislation The insurgent Reoub-
Z
power be taken from the Speaker The
Democrats have been understood TO
agree with this view. VIII they. having
{ nov the opportunity TO prove their pO-
sitiOn, continue O. that Tnind2
Putting Them 0a Record
l The Washington Times. Immediately
after the November election, addressed
/ to every Democrat who had been elect
/ ed to the new House, a letter asking
I him TO answer this question:
/ DO you intend TO vote TO take from
/ the Speaker the power 10 appoint COM
mittees2'
To that question approximately one
third of the members Of the House have
/ sent their answers The answers show
that just about half OF those who make
answer decline to commit themselves
/ Of those Who answer, the large ma
/ jority declare for taking the committee
power from the Speaker
/ Accurately stated. thiTty-Oue declare
/ for taking the power from the Speaker,
/ six declare fatty against such acton,
Continued on Page Fourtesn.)