The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1910-04-21
cANNoNIsM DEFINED.


man, and which sets forth clearly
the fact that "Cannonism" does not
mean republicanism any more than
it does democracy, should be earn
estly and prayerfully read by every
voter regardless of political predilcc-
tons, and while it is being read the
aforesaid voter should divest him
self Of all political prejudice and be-
come for the nonce simply a pat
riotic American citizen. The States
man says:
So far as this paper is concerned
its definition of "Cannonism' is that
it is a growth upon the body polite
that has spread to the point of near
ly choking The life out of represent
alive government AS applied to the
house of representatives, it is pol
icy looking to-and gaining-contro
of legislation through domination of
committees.
Speaker Cannon has the naming of
the committees of the house, and the
committees decide what legislation
shall be brought forth and what shall
be pigeon-holed. Especially has it
been possible to control legislation
through the committees on rules, of
which the speaker has been a mem
ber-more supreme there than in re-
lation to any other committee. That
committee controls the order of bust
ness and practically determines the
tate of legislation. The speaker and
his two partisan lieutenants on this
committee of five have ruled it alb
solutely. They had the power to dis
pose of legislation, to prevent amend
ment. to forbid debate, to gag the
minority and, what is more, even
the majority party in the house. Take
the tariff bill as an illustration. 1t
was brought into the house under a
special rule of the rules committee
which arbitrarily barred amendment
proposals by any member of the
house. Special interests, as alleged,
and standpat doctrines, as wis APP
parent. prevailed as against the wave
of popular protest rolling over the
country. Consideration of highly i'm
portant measures has been denied
by this committee. These conditions
have been rolled into compact mass
and labeled ''Cannonism," as the
Statesman understands it.
In the name of all the patriots
who died to free America from the
grasp of King George, is that sort
Of thing representative government?
II one agency can say what can and
what cannot be acted on by branch
of congress, is not the voice of the
people stilled and the energies put
forth for legislation demanded by the
times paralyzed? Is not constitution
al government rendered much of a
farce when one fundamentally may
successfully defy the public will
through arrogated power?
The house is supposed to be the
branch of congress nearest the peo-
pie, because 1t comes from the people
every two years. But 1t cannot rep
resent the popular desires when this
one agency sits on the legislative
lid and says what shall come from
the pot and what shall stay in, and
If 1t come out at all in what form
form that the house must not alter
II the committee on rules forbid
amendments.
That's "Cannonism." It's the same
as "Reedism," Crispism" and Car
lyleism." And it's all wrong and
must be stopped If we are to have
what the founders of this republic
commended for-representative govern
ment; for there are other things
that are tyrannical and unbearable
beside taxation without representa-
ton"
So far as Cannon, the man, is con.
cerned the opponents of Cannon.
ism" have no reasonable cause for
bitter words. He is the creature of
system, practice, that has grown