The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-08
DEMONSTRATION IN
THE HOUSE BIGGEST
SEEN IN MANY DAYS
Vote Is Taken Upon Appointment of
BaIlIngerPinchot Investigat-
ing Committee and Can
non Is Shorn of His
Power.
BY wATTERsoN sTEALEY.

BY WATTERsoN sTEALEY.
Washington, January 7-(special.) )-Can-
nonism went through a veritable black
Friday in the House of Representatives
this afternoon. The Ballinger-Pinchot IN
vestgation resolution was passed. and the
democratic members, in coalition with rs
republican insurgents, completely upset
the plans of the organization and by
majority of four votes placed the appoint
ment of the investigating committee in
tie hands of the House and not with the
speaker.
This result was in no small degree due
to the splendid tactical fight put up by
the democrats. The resourcefulness of
tile acting democratic leader. Represen-
tative Underwood of Alabama, could not
be met by the parliamentary sharps of the
organization, which sustained the worst
defeat of its regime.
Representative Underwood suggested
early in the day to Representative Nor
tris of Nebraska, one of the insurgent
leaders, that the occasion was a most pro
pitious one for giving the insurgent re-
publicans a chance to show what they
sue. Mr.. Norris accepted the challenge.
When the time came Mr.. Norris onefal
his amendment as originally suggested
and it was supported by an increased in
surgent following.
Decisive Victory.
It was the first blood which the insur-
gents had ever drawn in their long fight
-uxt+b Tho Cannon forces and uhar, the an
nouncement of the vote showed that vic
tory had been obtained by slight, but
nevertheless decisive. margin, the demo-
Gratis and the recalcitrant republicans
whom they were aiding joined in a dem
onstration of enthusiasm such as seldom
has been seen in the House. 1t was
quite different from the occasion of a few
years ago when the House became equally
as enthusiastic when a republican MEM
Der nominated Mr.. Cannon for presiden-
tial candidate. On that occasion the man
from Danville swelled with pride; today
he clung crouchily upon his desk and grit
ted his teeth with a determination which
showed his resentment of the action of
the men whom he has been endeavoring to
Rread out of the republican party.
II After the test vote upon the amendment
Mwhich forced the naming of the House
Nmembers of the investigating committee
beyond the power of the speaker. the reg
uars became sullen and docile, and fully
recognizing the futility of endeavoring to
defeat other amendments offered by the
insurgents, acquiesced in their adoption
and when the joint resolution was put
upon final passage it was unanimously
adopted.
Joker Eliminated.
One of the most important amendments
forced upon the leaders by the insur-
gents was the elimination of joker
which would have shut out clifford Pin
chot. former Secretary GARFIELD and 9TH
er ex-officials Of the interior department
as we'll as of the forestry service from
representation at the hearing unless the
investigators should elect to call them
There was nothing in the resolution COM
pelling the Joint committee to hear Pin
chot's side of the controversy, the wit
nesses to be summoned having been left
under the plans of the Cannon leaders,
wholly to the discretion of the investi-
gators.
Representative Poindexter, one of the
staunchest of the insurgents, forced the
adoption Of his amendment which gives
every ex-official whose conduct shall be
, under fire the right to appear before the
investigation committee and be represent
ed before It by counsel. This amendment
possesses additional significance s1nce!
the announcement of the Presidents dis
nissal of Chief Forester Pinchot be-
cause 1t gives him the right to be heard,
also the right to have counsel on hand
to protect his interests
Strength of Vote.
The strength Of the insurgent vote In
which they were able to muster total
of 26 republicans In opposition to allow
ing the speaker to name the House end
Of the committee stunned the leadership.
Never before had they been able to mus
ter more than q votes. Today their
ranks remain intact. only three insur-
gents being at all lukewarnl Messrs. Nye,
Steenerson and Stevens of Minnesota de-
serted the insurgent cause to vote with
the speakers followers. Two other In
surrents-Messrs. Clay and Houthwick--
were absent This was compensated for
!, bv the addition of new recruits to the
4 insurrent ranks, including men OF unusu-
ally strong influence. These were But
Ter Ames Of Massachusetts, Herbert Par
sons Of New York, Hamilton Fish OF New
York and Lowering of Massachusetts.
Half an hour before the first test vote
was taken on the Norris amendment pro-
vidine for popular House election OF
the committee the leaders learned that
there were signs of unusual activity IN
the iusurgent ranks. It was then learned
by the organixation for the first time
that the insurgents intended to oppose
practically the full strength Of their fol-
lowers against the plan Of the rules
committee and that democratic leaders
were sending out for abssntees The only
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