Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-01-05
Internecine War Among
Republicans is to
the Death.
HOLD A MEETING SOON
Senate Progressive and House
Insurgents Have No Choice
of Weapons.

washington, Jan. o--IL is expected
the insurgent republican members OF
the house will call a meeting at an
early day to give earnest consideration
to the situation arising from the an
nouncement that the administration
would no longer countenance isurg.
ing' in congress. and would withhold
patronage from recalcitrant members.
The most radical of the insurgent
leaders on the house side feel that,
with the elections but a few months
distant, it is a life and death struggle
with them, and, consequently, when
forced into the fray, have no hesita-
ton about carrying the war to any ex-
tent
VIII Use Any Available Weapon.
The effort to defeat insurgent con-
gressmen by starting a fight against
them IN their home districts, as was
reported yesterday, had already begun
in several districts in the west, has hit
hard, and the congressman so attacked
probably will make no choice of wea-
pons In defending themselves.
1t was expected some statement
would be forthcoming today from the
administration side as to its attitude
regarding the insurgents.
Hitchcock IS Silent.
So far Postmaster General Hitch
cock has remained silent under the
statements emanating from Represen-
tative Miller Of Minnesota, to the eff
feet Hitchcock was holding up the ap-
pointments of postmasters recommend
ed by the fnsurgent republican mem
bers Of the house. The published inti-
nations that this course was being
pursued with reference to ?, number
of congressman from Mir 3ota and
wisconsin has so far bI xAt no for
NAL denial from any admin .lration au-
thority.
Naturally Are Sore.
Washington, Jan. 5.-There was
intense feeling among the insurgent
congressman who today read the pub
lished reports that they are to be
singled out by the administration
for punishment for their "rebellious
conduct as members of the majority
party Of the house. Several were un-
sparing IN their denunciatfon OF pol
,cy which sought to punish a man for
freedom and independence of thought
and action, as they expressed 1t.
Party Itself Pledged.
Not a few were 10th to believe the
president would lend his aid to the
effort to administer castigation to
them for supporting the very prin-
eiples and policies for which they
claimed the party itself stood pledg
ed Representative Madison of Kan
sas declared the insurgents were not
against Taft or his policies, but favor
every leading reform to which the
president and party are committed.
He said the withholding of patron
age would not swerve the insurgents
from their course.
SDiscipline AIdrich and Cannon.
Its not the insurgents of the
house, but the men like Aldrich and
Cannon, whom the president will
have to induce to support his pol
icies.'' He continued, 1.-THE insur-
gents are for the presidents policies
and have been all the time"
Other Insurgents approved Madi-
sons decIArations. Senator Cummins
said he had experienced no difficulty
IN the matter of patronage
Has Not Made Up Mind
From a source close to the admin
.. istration the declaration came today
that no hard and fast determination
has yet been reached by the president
aot to recognize the insurgents in the
matter of patronage The subject is
under consideration but it was said
alternative determination had been
reached as a matter OF self Drotec-
ton in insurfng the success of the
presidents policies"
Mann Panzrrna CanaI BnI Up.
Washington. Jan. 5--The Mann Pan
ANA canal bill, providing for the re-
organization of the administration Of
the canal zone, comes up for further
consideration in the house today, and
Its author. Representative Mann OF IL
linOis, is hopeful of having the measure
put on final passage before the end of
the days session. It's chances of sue
cess in the senate is less bright than
In the house, as several senators who
visited the canal zone during the hol-
lday recess OF congress have returned
convinced a change in the government
Of the zone such as is proposed in the
Mann bill would be inadvisable.
Taft Again Hesitates.
Washington, JAN 5.-The announce
nent was made at the White house to-
} lay that Tafts combined special mes
sage on the interstate commerce and
antitrust laws would not go to con-
resS until Friday.