Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-03-18
RESOLUTION TO
TAKE AWAY POWER
Speaker From Rules
Committee

1 WAShlNGIONs II. e., March Is.
A desperate struggle against
Speaker Cannon began in the house
of representatives late yesterday
afternoon was resumed again In dead
ly earnest early today after an all
night session. When a number of
republican regulars left the house at
2:3O o'clock this morning it was
thought the debate had been checked
because Of no quorum being present.
Warrants were then issued for the
arrest Of every member of the house
that was absent and Sergeant at
Arms Casson was instructed to serve
them. At o'clock Hollingsworth OF
Ohio appeared under arrest and
Speaker Cannon returned to the
house at 6 O'Clock showing plainly
the effects OF the strain he had been
through during the night, and the
democrats showered him with ques-
tions regarding the truant members.
Speaker Cannon then issued war
rants only to Casson, republican,
and the democrats insisted that
Cannon's democratic assistant SER
geant at arms had not been instruct
ed to bring in absentees and the
speaker was accused in the most bit
ter speeches with having attempted to
inaugurate personal flibuster and
his tactics were declared to be efforts
to keep away those members who
were Joining the insurgents in the
fight against the. speaker. Finally
deputies were sworn in to help hunt
up the absent members and at 1920
roll call sounded a quorum pres
ent. Olmstead, regular, moved that
the sergeant at arms and deputies
cease their efforts to arrest any more
absentees.
Cannon Forces Defeated.
Roll call was demanded on the
Olmstead motion and the Cannon
forces were again defeated by a vote
of 124 to SO. Twenty-Five democrats
refused to vote, being paired with
absent republicans. The allied in
surgents and democrats declared at i
this time that they would have a
majority of seven even with full
membership of the house present.
Fight Is Bitter.
The fight is one of the most bitter |
in the history of the present congress
and is being waged for a new rules
committee with the speaker ineligi- |
BILE as a member. The resolution for
the reorganization OF the committee
was presented by Norris of Nebraska
late yesterday afternoon and it was
this resolution that precipitated the
fight to shear Uncle Joe of some of
his power. 1t is claimed that it is
through the power of this commit
tee that Cannon is able to rule the
house with an iron hand.
May Use Force.
Norris of Nebraska, leader of the
insurgents, was asked today Suppose
the speaker refuses to rule on the
question at issue for a day or two.
what them" He replied, that the
only thing to do will be to use force.
If he must be deposed. and a new
speaker put in the chair, and II Can
non refused to give up the gavel you
can imagine what kind of a scene
would follow" At o'clock Speak
er Cannon put Moore of Pennsylya-
MIA In the chair and hostilities ceas-
ed for the time. but 1t is expected
that the fight will be resumed soon.
The insurgents are confident.
Tried Force on Cannon.
At half past ten O'Clock the In
surgents gathered in Gardeners room
for a conference with Mardoek OF
Kansas. who is one OF the leaders. At
noon Simms attempted to force the
chair to do something. but he sub
sided after lengthy argument which
gained nothing.
Members Become Hilarious.
Shortly before Cannon returned
and took his chair a number of the
democrats began to sing, first hymns
then popular songs, and among the
songs were "old Black Joe" and i