Arizona republican., 1910-03-18
The Regulars in the Minority Fighting for Time
Resolution Depriving the Speaker of Either Mem bership or Influence in the Committee on Rules. A Powerful Coalition of Insurgents and Democrats Threatened Its Adoption

Washington. March 11.-With Speak cr Cannons power in the house hang ing in the balance and his supporters fencing for time, no one is in posi- ton to say what the outcome will be. The fiercest battle probably that was ever waged against the house rules. obliterated party lines in the historic chamber tonight
 It had been raging for seven hours. at II o'clock. the hour when the regulars believed they could rally their strongest force for the final clash that was to determine whether the insur- gent democratic coalition was power ful enough to unhorse the regular or ganiZation.
 At that hour the Cannon forces were plainly in the minority, and were flll- clustering to prevent the crucial test It had been reported by the republican whip. MT. Dwight, that endorsements were coming from Philadelphia and New York. and the Cannon men were hanging on like grim death hoping that a handful of men supposed to be on the New York express would be suffl- cient to turn the tide.
 new committee on rules, with the speaker ineligible to membership was the issue The pending question for hours was a resolution by Mr. Norris of Nebraska, reading as follows:
 THE FATAL RESOLUTION.
 The following is the text of the Nor ris resolution: Resolved that the rules of the house be amended as fol- lows:
 That the committe on rules consist of fifteen members, nine of whom shall be members of the majority and SIX of the minority to be selected as fol- lows:
 The states of the union shall be di- vided by q committee of three selected by the house spr that purpose. into nine groups. each containing as near as may be, an equal number of mem- bers belonging to the majority; the states likewise shall be divided into six groups. each containing as near as may be an equal number of members belonging to the minority; at 1:3O o'clock of the day following the adop- ton of the report of said committee. each of said groups shaif>meet and se- lect one of it's number. a member of the committee on rules. The place Of meeting of each said groups shall be designated by said committee of three in its report. Each of said groups shall report to the house the name of the member selected for membership of the rules committed.
 The committee on rules shall select its own chairman. The speaker shall not be eligible to membership in said committee. All rules and parts thereof inconsistent with the foregoing resolu- ton are hereby repealed"
 over q matter comparatively trivial in itself, the insurgents found oppor- tunity for a test of strength with the organization"
 WHAT STARTED IT.
 It occurred over an attempt by Mir. Crumpacker. of Indiana. to obtain con sideration for a resolution amending the census act. Practically no mem bers of the house opposed the resolu- tion. but it @as contended that the method used to bringing it up tran scended the rules of the house Mir. Cannon yesterday ruled against that view and was defeated.
 The question came up again today ana the regulars DelleNeu lndt tneH had mustered sufficient strength on the democratic side to reverse yester days action. The vote developed that they had been mistaken or had been deceived and the Cannon forces were again beaten. The second vote took place late in the afternoon. The ef- feet was startling.
 To taste of blood.' seemed to infuririat those who had long fretted under the restraint of organization rule. The in- surgent republicans and democrats swarmed to a common batie ground and made concerted movement against the rules.
 HE HAD IT HANDY.
 Reposing in Mir. Norris desk had been d resolution, prepared at the be- ginning of the present session. handy against a time when it would be use- ful.
 He seized the opportunity and flung the gage of battle into the arena. Pre- vious disasters had made the Cannon forces wary and immediately they be- ban sparring for time.
 It was evident that the organiza- uon was fighting for it's very exist ence. The conflict was on a plane different from any that had been held