The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-18
Attitude of nemocrats

ing legislation.
 Attitude of Democrats
 The attitude of the democrats toward the movement so suddenly put under way was made evident by the prompt in dorsement of MT Norris contentious by Mr. Underwood of Alabama, and by Nil nority Leader Champ Clark of Ms souri.
 MT. Underwood insisted that the Ian guage of the constitution made the Ne braskan's resolution a matter of the highest privilege. Minority Leader Clark reminded the speaker that he had once said that the House could do anything 1t pleased. even to the election of a new speaker.
 aThe speaker has said that an elephant could be put through the House If the House so desiredl" shouted Mir. Clark
 "rhe speaker" said MT Cannon, who had until now watched the proceedings in grim silence. would be prepared to rule on that question whenever any gen tleman thinks that the minority has be- come the majority. But that presents an entirely different question from the one now before us.''
 If we can change the speaker, shouted Mir. Clark. Gwhy can't we change the rules?'
 Deafening applause on the democratic side was evoked by this remark.
 Mir Clark. opposing any suggestion that the resolution be referred to the committee on rules, declared that thai committee, consisting of three republic ans. including the speaker. and two dem ocrats. could not be trusted with a measure curtailing it's own powers The republican majority of one on that com mittee was as great as their majority in the House, and" he added, amid laughter more reliable.'
 If you want to change the rules, shouted Mr Clark, looking over the House, "now is the accepted time.'
 Payne Pleads
 When the applause had subsided Ma jority Leader Payne made strong and feeling plea for regularity
 I've cannot have the responsibility oi the majority of this House. said MT Payne, unless we can exercise it under the rules of the House. The men on thai side,' he continued. waving his hand to- ward the democrats, "come today to break down the rules.
 ''Is the democratic party going to make it's usual blunder?" he asked
 Now at this critical time, with ar election coming off and with the best h terests Of the people at stake, you wh6 | have fought for the republican party have a care that you do not aid and abet the enemies of the republican party AT outburst of applause on the republican side had hardly died out before MT. Poin dexter of Washington, one of the long | time insurgents, declared that there wal no regular system of rules in the Hous' | by which its business was transacted.
 Mir Poindexter charged the insurgenti of the House to bear in mind that thi' resolution gave them a chance to allow the country to see where they stood II their attitude of reformers of the prac tices of the House.
 MT. Douglas of Ohio, in an impassionec appeal to the majority. declared that b, the adoption of the pending resolution thu | House would make chaos of its rules.
 Now is the time of your salvation shouted MT. Poindexter after ridiculint the suggestion that there was danger O chaos In the conduct of the House.
 Hamilton FTsh's Speech
 One of the most vigorous speeches o the day was by Hamilton Fish of New York. who told of his efforts to get { hearing on his bill for the creation of a parcels post.
 Your resolution for an inquiry into thu parcels post suggestion gave the commit tee only 30 days to conclude It's work suggested MT. Smith of Iowa
 "Ohr exclaimed the New Yorker de risiyely. you could have changed that tt give yourself O or 30 days Then followed charges and counter charges concerning the methods of della. alleged to be responsible for the inabilit. of members to get hearings on bills ant the assertions of impossibility of havini bills brought out unless approved by tn . powers of the House."
 An extended address was delivered by J . Sloat Fassett of New York, who appeale to his republican colleagues to resist an, i effort to divide the party. If we gav' i you our power" shouted MT. Fasseti shaking his forefinger toward the demo , crats, i've could not strip ourselves 0 , one iota of our responsibility He reminded the democrats that i , curtailing the power of the majority the were establishing a dangerous preceden for themselves He said the democrats al ready were referring to the insurgents a near democrats" or 'mercerized repuh icans.'
 Change of Party Control This is not question of change c 5 rules" he continued, it is q question c a change of party control. It is a ques = ton of whether by an unnatural and foi r egn alliance with our natural politics enemies these rules are to be changed Finally, the action taken here mean D success or failure of the Taft admins = tration.
 , We have been in session three an e one-half months, and what have W I done to make effective any of the Pres Q idents recommendations" interjecte Mir Haugen of Iowa.
 r We are on the way" replied MT. Fas sett
 e Mr. Fassett read a letter written b Mir. Roosevelt to MT. Watson of IT T diana in 1906, in which Roosevelt rt ' ferred to the great accomplishment of the House of Representatives unde T. the management of MT. Cannon. Tn evoked protracted applause from til ], regular republicans.
 . . Representative Gardnerfo Michiga =. characterized the speaker as the wises e man in public or private life.
 Mr Madison of Kansas said that fa