The San Francisco call., 1910-03-22
Regulars Ready for Business

Importance with them was the caucus
TO be called on the subject of the new
rules committee. Chairman Currier of
the republican caucus said on this sub
sect:
I have just arrived at my office, and
have as yet conferred with no one
about it,
It seemed settled also that the in
surgents would enter the republican
caucus for the selection of six mem
bers of the majority party of the new
rules committee. Insurgents are not
insisting upon representation. although
they would not be averse to accept
ing il.
Representative Norris, author of the
resolution which overthrow the old
rules committee, said today:
We do not insist on representation.
All we want is q committee of fair
men. I have no doubt the insurgents
viii enter the republican caucus unless
something is done by the regulars to
cause trouble II all depends upon the
attitude of the other fellows If they
want to accept the opportunity they
now have 10 go ahead everything will
be all right. What viii happen can not
be foretoid.
Fight for Principle
I voted against the Burleson reso-
lUNlOn 10 0cCldLS the speaker CHAIR
vacant" continued Norris, because it
was a fight for principle and not one
Of personalities. 1 did not wish to see
the house precipitated into chaos and
disorder from which IL probably would
not emerge for weeks. to the detriment
Of important pending legislation.
Speaker CannOn's speech before the
Illinois Republican association Satur-
day night in which he called the in
rr-l,n ms ha
son resolution a lot of cowardly mem
bers, was but the vaporings of an old
mans mind II represented the state
ments Of a senile man who was filled
with venom and vengeance because of
q crushing defeat which he had suf-
fered as result of his tyranny.
Our victory already had been won
when we deprived the speaker of his
most powerful Weapon-the appoint
ment of the rules committee. I had
only a moment to think 1t over and
decided 1T was better to place party
welfare above personal revenge.
4 voted for Cannon for speaker at
the beginning OF the present congress
not because / was for him. He had in
suited and humiliated me and he had
taken me from all important commit
tees. We had not spoken for two years
But I voted for him regardless of these
facts because 1 did not want him to
have opportunity in future to discrim-
mate against me and declare that he
did so because ! was a 'bolter.'
4 still think I did right Saturday
when / voted TO retain Cannon in the
chair Events I believe, will justify
me-"
Il was suggested TO Norris that if
the republican caucus should name six
men dominated by Speaker Cannon the
new rules committee scarcely would
- IL
surgent' victory on the rules question
would be practically vitiated.
The victory may not show so much
IN the present congress- answered Nor
ris, but in the years to come IL will be
in evidence. We have taken the speak
er himself from the rules committee
and have taken the naming of the
other members out of his hands The
members of that committee hereafter
will not be under the slightest obli-
cation TO the speaker, but will be re-
sponsible 10 the house alone for their
appointment"
ALSO the house can change the rules
committee IL il does not obey the
wishes Of the house."
Denounces Speakers Attitude
Norris vigorously denounced the
attitude assumed by the speaker to-
ward the insurgents" since the vote
Saturday.
TT all depends upon how the repub-
Iican majority conducts itself toward
the insurgents in the future, as to
what our own actions will be-" he
continued When the speaker de-
nounces us as towards he is but wild
ening the split in the party and making
our insurgency more intense. We are
not towards, but were honest. conscien
tious men when we voted last Saturday
not to dethrone the republican speaker
Of the house"
Norris said there was no meeting of
the insurgents in sight, although they
were in a position to get together at
q moments notice
The democratic position apparently
was one of entire satisfaction with the
situation. The democrats contemplated
no violent hostilities, for the present at
least
We are in the best position we have
been in for 20 years." said Minority
Leader Champ Clark Il looked for no
trouble today, nor perhaps tomorrow.
but no one can foretell just what will
come OF the effort TO select a new rules
committee There is no trouble on this
side of the house, but you can't tell
about 1t over yonder."
Numerous conferences are in prog
ress on all sides regarding the situa-
tion. Several of the important commit
tees began sessions again today. The
Taft legislative program was put IN