The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1910-04-07

+ 'b-'"'V ii IoAttSt upon the mouse IN
the election of new Speaker, a con-
test that might greatly en1anger the
final passage of all legislation neces-
sary to redeem Republican pledges ard
fulfill Republican pro'nises.' Then he
feit that his resignation a such June
ture would be a confession of weak
nesss and an apology for past acts. He
had no confession of that character to
make and no apology to enter.
But there was another alternative
and that was to entertain motion
that the chair be vacated. The Speaker
said he would welcome such a mo-
ton at that moment or at any time
while he remained as Speaker.
This was a signal for a real Demon
stratiOn on the part of the Repub-
leans, who dared the alliance to enter
any such motion. AS a matter of fact
if the dare had not been taken the
Speaker had arranged for one of his
own supporters to make it. There
would have been an announcement by
| the mover that he intended to vote
! against the motion but proposed it for
| the purposes of testing the sentiment
! of the house.
| But Representative Burleson, of
| Texas. was on his feet, clamoring for
recognition to present such a motion.
| Other Democrats tried to force an ad-
iournment in vain. And amid scenes,
which will never be forgotten by those
who were present, the vote of conf
| dence in the Speaker-the vote that
! amounted TO reelectOn-was passed.
| One by one the insurgents again rang
~ ~, hn,r 4 rty-
brethren and when the result was an
nounced the Speaker returned to the
chair He had left the hall while the
vote was in progress and left Repre-
sentative Serene E. Payne, of New
| York, to preside His return was the
| occasion for the greatest demonstra-
| ton of the entire struggle. Some men,
bers jumped upon their seats and yell
ed like mad men. Representative Ora
ham, of Pennsylvania, took up large
! American flag and waved it from his
position in the aisle.
The struggle now is over the Repub-
lean caucus for the choice of the six
! members of the rules committee.
| Whethe this struggle will precipitate
another clash remains to be determined.
Some of the insurgents want represen-
tation upon the rules committee, some
of them are Indifferent about it. The
claim is made that the insurgents
should make the first move for a eau
Gus, as the ruction of the week has
been of their making. If no request
for caucus is filed the chairman, Rep
resentative Currier, of New Hampshire,
will call one in few days.
The regulars feel that, after all,
they have something of a victory to
: their credit and are still in a very
defiant mood. The Speaker is decidedly
in that category. And yet it is ques-
) ton whether they are really anxious
for any more fighting. Influential men
within the party are counseling peace
and their counsels may prevail. It is
argued. now that the insurgents have
returned to the party-all except nine
) there ought to be a forward move
ment to pass the President s bills and
make ready for the congressional cam
5 paign in the autumn. The appeals for
such course are very strong and very
: probably the President will enforce
them on his return to Washington. He
has been keeping far aloof from the
r strife, having left for Chicago before
!
: graph by close friends to be on his
= guard against allowing any one to draw
. him into the controversy.
=. In the great diversity of opinions ex-
. pressed regarding the effect of the
7 great wrangle, one hears it said fire.
quentlv that Speaker Cannon is now
h stronger than he has been at any pre-
: ,ious time this session. Representa-
tive John W. Weeks, chairman of the
. postofice committee and one of the
: Speakers leading lieutenants, summed
n the situation up as follows:
"Before this fight began I had my
: doubts whether if the next house Is
h Republican, Speaker Cannon could be
!. elected to preside over it. | am now
: inclined to believe that he can be anc
4 will be-
q The contest, through which the house
- has passed, bears Immediately upol
. the methods Of government there. Bu
!, ! it has a great bearing upon Legislation
= and will have no little influence upoI
the insurgent movement IN the senat
!, In fact fight is already in progress
: there by which western senators, par
;, ticularly insurgent senators, are trylns
- to obtain control over matters tina
= have hitherto been within the juris
. diction of committees where eastern
= senators dominate.
!, The insurgents of senate and hous
- are likely to take courage from wha
= has been done to press harder than eve
. for notifications in President Taft
{ measures. They have been outspokel
i in that direction. Senator Cummlns
Il of Iowa. led off last week with
u scathing criticism of the President TO
d supporting and eountenancing such
+ railroad bill as is now pending there
y 1t seemed as though there was an et
IS fort all along the insurgent line I
r. break down the Taft administrator
IS and to batter it hard while the Presl
d dent was away from Washington.
{ The Democrats are whooping 1t u
t and claiming a lion : share of tn
p credit for themselves. They are point
e ing with pride to the solidity wit
o which thew stood when there was a
" opportunity for some positive actlo'
n toward rules reform. But they ar
uuarreling among themselves over IN
h proprietv Of the Burleson motion I
=. vacate the chair and promise TO de
O. velop considerable fractional d1SeoF
<. thereon. The only partiSans, who ar
r now standing together are the iaithfu