Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-18
TIME no FORGET.
Pertinent Suggestions for Republican
Factions I'm Congress.
w., Nrz.I. n-th.,.. .r

Factions in Congress.
i1 New York Tribune
A majority Of the house Of represen-
tatives may have been actuated more by
petty malevolsnce than by any burning
passion for economy in denying the speaker
the use of an automobile at public expense.
The country will be disposed to think that
a certain consideration due to the office OF
speaker has been withheld because Of dis
satisfaction with the policies pursued by
the present incumbent. Mr.. Cannon says
that personally he does not care in the
least whether congress supplies him with
an automobile or not, and that he has
never wanted such a perduisite provided.
What hurts him is that the house should
seem to show a disposition to expose him
to petty a~nnoyances. The Thought OF being
baited to make q holiday for the galleries
fills him with p~ardonabie irritation and
leads him to express his feelings at times
more plainly than political discretion war
rants.
To appear to be q poor loses puts a
politician at q marked disadvantage, and
Mr.. Cannon has undoubtedly suffered In
public esteem because OF the openness with
which he has displayed his chagrin over
the termination Of his Absolutism. Ho and
some OF his closest associates have failed
to catch the real Significance OF the revo-
luton Of last month. They think hat
somehow party authority was impaired and
flouted, when merely a change has been
made to the method by which party au-
thority is exercised. Many representatives
who have grown up under the old order
and have looked to It for recognition in The
distribution OF power, Influence and per-
quisites felt, no doubt, that the capitol
rocked on It's foundation and the Goddess
OF Liberty tottered when some OF the
speakers powers we're rudely cut away.
But these uneasy statesmen were inter
preting their own fears rather than those
OF the public. The voters DO not care very
much after what model the house OF repre-
sentatives governs itself. They want re-
suits. like the redemption by the party in
power OF its pledges to the people. They
grew weary Of "Cannonism' because IT
seemed that onelman power stood IN the
way OF free and intelligent party action
and a vigorous effort TO enact progressive
legislation. They have no special grudge
against Mr.. Cannon personally. but they
gladly put the system which he represented
behind them. and they rightly deprecate
now a disposition on his part OF on part
OF his friends to fight over old battles aud
revive old grievances.
The insurgents in tho house OF represen-
tatives have, on the whole, shown a more
rational spirit than Mr.. cannon and his
followers. They have dismissed the rules
contest as settled for the lime and have
gone to work TO. accomplish the legislative
tasks before the party In congress. Presi-
dent Taft has pointed out that the party
has more than enough on its hands to keep
II occupied for the next two or three
months. II must make good or be dis
credited. ana every republican represen-
tative should give his undivided attention
from now on to meeting the wishes Of the
president and the country. letting differ
ences over questions OF internal govern
ment In the house rest until some more
convenient season.