Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-03-22
AFTER THE BATTLE.
Speculation as to the Results of the
Great Conflict In the House.

Washington, March 20.-The Titantic
struggle over the speakership Of the
house of representatives, which reach
ed it's climax late yesterday in the de-
struction Of the speakers power in the
committee on rules and the determina-
committee, yet leaving Mr.. Cannon the
speakership itself, may have marked
not so much the ending Of three days
battle as the beginning Of a great po-
litical war. The recognition by all fac
tions of this possibility was the princi-
pal feature today of the political sit
uation in Washington.
Hardly anybody here thinks that
the condition Of affairs after the mo-
mentous battle represents any salts
factory conclusion. The speaker and
his friends appear to interpret the re-
fusal Of the house to depose him as
justifying them in claiming to have
wrested victory from defeat, endorse
ment from reputation. Not few of
the insurgents who voted for Mr.. Can
mons retention are wondering today II
they made a political blunder; whether
their anti Cannon constituents will
not indeed hold their retaining him in
the speakership to have nullified their
vote to eliminate him from the rules
committee.
The Republican regulars complacent-
ly claim that the insurgents who voted
for the speaker nave returned to the
party fold. The Democrats taunt these
insurgents with having been recreant
to the logic Of their insurgency. No
body seems entirely happy about the
outcome. Even in the senate, the reg
ulars are apprehensive lest the insur-
gent confiagration may be about to
spread to that house: the insurgent
senators are wondering whether they
have made the most Of their opportuni-
ties.
Speaker Cannon's defiant speech last
night before the Illinois Republican as
sociation, in which he contemptuously
denounced the insurgent members Of
the house who stood by him in the final
test as "cowardly members Of congress
without the courage of their convic-
tions," has cut to the quick those
men who responded with their votes to
what they say they believed to be their
duty to the party and to the country,
and saved him from utter humiliation.
Today, the feeling among these in
surgents was one Of the bitterest re-
sentiment over the attitude assumed
towards them.
IF this Is to be the manner of our
treatment for saving the Republican
party" said one of them today, who
refused to allow his name to be used,
this battle just ended will be followed
by another, beside which the first one
would be but Skirmish.
II can speak for no one but myself,
but if this is to be our reception, l am
done We are not towards. We Of the
insurgents who cast our votes yester-
day against unseating Cannon were the
bravest men in that house. 1t took
consummate courage and it will prob
ably cost me my seat in congress. But
If we are to be met with calumny be-
cause we sacrifice ourselves to save the
house Of representatives from chaos
and disorder and to prevent the ruin of
the Republican party then | am In
favor Of carrying this war to the fin
ish."
This member said he had talked with
one or two others of the inSurgent
leaders who voted to save Cannon and
they were in a similar frame Of mind.
When I read in the papers this
morning the speech which Speaker
Cannon delivered before the Illinois
association last night. my blood boiled
with Indignation" said this insurgent.
The next conflict will come, If it
comes. on the selection Of the new
rules committee provided for in the
Norris resolution. The committee is to
be elected by the house instead of be-
ing appointed by the speaker as hith-
erto.
Neither the regular Republicans nor
the Democrats have as yet made any
arrangements for a party caucus, but
both caucuSes will be held within the
next three or four days.
Representative Tawney, one of the
leaders Of the Republican side, said to-
day that no conferences had been held
to date on the subject. but undoubted- |
ly one would occur perhaps tomorrow. |
All Of the caucuses must be held with
In ten days, for that is the time limit |
fixed by the Morris resolution for the |
election of the new committee.
OF this committee, the Republicans
will choose six members and the Dem
ocratS four. Whether the insurgents |
will be given representation among the |
six Republican members is now un-
known. They say they have not asked |
and do not care for membership on the
new committee.
I'VE do not wish to assume r"Sp0n-
sibllity for legislation or to try to
force ourselves on the house In that
way" said one OF their number. 1T
would not be best for us to do So"
Tho DemOcratS will choose their four