The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-01-28


Most assuredly l do" Mr.. Foster
replied. During the past months ]
have had opportunity to talk with moi
only the members of the House, but
representative Republicans from
many parts of the country. 1 believe
that throughout the middle West the
desire for a change is more intense
than in Vermont. For instance, am
told by various members of the Ohio
delegation in the House that this is
the foremost issue in Ohio today and
that many of them have been called
upon already as candidates for re-
nomination to declare themselves up
on this question. In fact, l believe
that there is very general demand
by the Republicans throughout the
entire country for the selection of a
new speaker in the next House. In
view of all this the welfare of the
party and the prestige of the House
require a change of leadership there
in"
Does this sentiment go to the
length OF demanding the retirement
of Mr.. Cannon from public life?"
mot at all The people of Mr.. Can
mons district can continue to send
him to Congress just as long as they
please. Ex-Speaker Keifer has set
him worthy example. That gentle
man is doing faithful service on the
floor of the House. No one familiar
with the facts denies the valuable
services Speaker Cannon rendered in
years gone by on the floor Of the
House and as chairman of the COM
mittee on appropriations. There is
no humiliation in his returning to
the floor and there is no reason why
he should not continue to serve his
district just as Ex-Speaker Keifer is
serving the people Of his district"
what particular advantage is to
be gained by the election Of some
man other than Mr.. Cannon speaker
of the next House?"
First of all it will show that the
House of Representatives is not a
one-man body. Justly or unjustly,
the feeling is widespread and deep
seated throughout the country that
the House of Representatives, COM
posed as it is of the representatives
of 90,000,000 of people, is dominated
by one man. 1t is unfortunate for
the House that this feeling should
exist. We have an abundance of ma
terial from which to select a speak |
er. l could name a number of men /
coming from various States of the /
Union, any one of whom would .
bake a great, broad-gaged speak
err and in whom the people
Of the country would have con-
fdence and under whose leadership
the House would throw of the at
that today envelopes 1t like
a pail
Incidentally would call atten-
ton to the fact that the next House
will occupy the new hall which is
being planned for it. 1t Is believed
that this hall will be much better
adapted to the needs of the member.
ship of the House than is the pres
emit one. One of the chief purposes
in making the proposed changes in
the hall of the House was to secure
better order. In the course Of some
before the. House last winter
I called attention to the disgraceful
lack of order in the proceedings or
the House. 1t is of the utmost i'm
Dortance that when we take possess
sion of the new hall we should start
out with a degree of order common
surate with the dignity and import
lnce of the House as a legislative
body. It will be much easier for a
new Speaker to accomplish the de-
sired results than it would be for
Speaker Cannon.
From every point OF view the sell '
,ction of a new Speaker in the next {
House means progress for the House. {
t would result in restoring in a large [
MEASURE public confidence in the {
House. 1t would inspire the members I
Il the House with larger feeling of
s
1.-THE American people demand that I
he House of Representatives should c
ssume and discharge the response |
,ility which belongs to it. They in r
list that not one man or one set Of t
nen should be responsible for leg n
Station or the failure to lsgislate. Y
)uring the past few months we have L
ccomplished much in this direction. t
he adoption of the rule providing for r
'alendar Wednesday has wrought a v
evolution in the procedure of the b
louise. For the first time since the Ii
doption of the Reed rules the House q
self has entire control over bills 7
eported by the several commit b
ses and the indirect results OF the ad n
49,. 80 tbsg pauv rrIa ara very an