Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-20
OSES POWER BY REMOVAL FROM COMMITTEE ON RULES

parties can act only through majori-
ties.
1.-THE speaker has always believed in
and bowed to the will of the majority
in congress, in caucus and in leglsla-
tive hall, and today profoundly be-
lieves that to act otherwise is to dis
organize parties, is to prevent CO.
herent action in any legislature, is to
make impossible the reflection of the
wishes of the people in statutes and
in laws.
Challenges Removal
1.-THE speaker has always held that
under the constitution it is a question
Of highest privilege for an actual ma
jority Of the house at any time to
choose q new speaker, and again noti-
fies the house that the speaker will, at
this moment, or at any other time
while he remains speaker, entertain in
conformity with the highest constitu-
tional privilege. a motion by any mem
Der to vacate the office Of the speaker
ship and choose u new speaker, and
under existing conditions would vel
come such action on the part Of the
actual majority Of the house, so power
and responsibility may rest with the
Democratic and insurgent members,
who by the last vote evidently consti-
tute a majority Of this house. The
chair is now ready to entertain such
motion"
Quiet attention characterized the
great assemblage until the speaker
said, in clear tones:
"The speaker is not conscious Of hav-
ing done any political wrong
These words proved to be a signal
for Il prolonged demonstration. When
he declared there was no coherent Re
publican party in the house there was
a renewal of cheers.
Finally, when the speaker expressed
his readiness to be superseded by a
new speaker, there was a tremendous
demonstration on the Republican side.
Sherley of Kentucky hurried to the
side of Underwood of Alabama and
held an excited conversation, while
Burleson of Texas arose and waving a
paper attempted to be recognized.
Rushing before the speakers desk
Sherley. in shouts that could have been
heard through the capitol building had
not confusion drowned them, moved to
adjourn.
"Oh no, oh mol" came shouts OF de-
rision from the Republican side.
"The gentleman from Texas has been
recognized" shouted Mr.. Tawney.
Moves to Gust Cannon
The speaker, demanding order, said
there were motions that might take
precedence of the motion to adjourn.
Upon the suggestion OF the speaker,
Mr.. Burleson read his resolution which
asked that the seat of the speaker be
declared vacant.
Quickly the Democrats turned from
their insurgent allies. Mr.. Norris sat
quietly in his place until the question
also whether the house should proceed
to consider the Burleson resolution or
whether the speaker should entertain
the motion to adjourn.
Mr. Norris doggedly refused to give
way to the group of Democrats ana IN
surgents who came to offer advice. He
insisted that only out of courtesy to
the speaker ne had withheld his reso-
luton, and was entitled to have it put
to the house. 1.-THE motion to adjourn
being in order the speaker would be
gratifed If the gentleman from Ne
braska would withhold it, pleaded the
speaker
Mr.. Norris, insisting that his motion
was still before the house, Mr.. Cannon
remarked that 1t occurred to him that
the gentleman from Nebraska was
right.
to complete the elimination of the
speaker at one session.
No" shouted at the same time tht
great Republican majority, who now
saw the great discontinue of the in
surgents in the movement in which
they were forced to consider the cleo
tion of a speaker and realized in spite
of their efforts the house might bo
turned over to the Democratic minor
ity.
Insuruents in a Corner
At once the Democrats and regular
Republicans joined forces for the hu-
initiation of the insurgents.
A viva voce vote being put on the
motion to adjourn, there was but a
faint response, while the negative vote
was given in enormous volume.
Norris, still hoping to avoid the issue
of electing another speaker, asked FOL
a record vote on his motion to ad-
iourn, and fourteen insurgents arose
to support that demand.
mot sufficient number" declared
the speaker, amid jeers that were dt-
rected toward the insurgents.
The question then reverted to the
Burleson resolution and the ayes and
noes were demanded.
"The speaker surrenders the chair tC
the gentleman from New York" an
nounced Mr. Cannon, looking toward
Representative Payne.
Amid loud applause the speaker left
the chair on the Republican side of the
house and nodding to his Republican
colleagues with a smile passed out into
the marble lobby and went to his pri-
vate office.
"After the adoption Of the resolution
will it be improper to nominate ChamT
Clark of Missouri for the speaker
ship?" inquired Mr.. Clark of Florida
Mr.. Tawney taunted the Floridar
that it would be in order when the
resolution was voted down.
Then came the roll call. The names
of insurgents were carefully noted anC
their responses greeted with jeers and
applause.
Insurgents Split; Cannon Wins
Cooper of Wisconsin, voting AYE,
was greeted with mingled cheers anc
Kisses.
MIR. Gaines" called tho reading
clerk
mo" answered the West Virginian
and his Republican colleagues sat bach
in their seats and laughed and jeerec
as the insurgents cast their votes
against the resolution and for the first