The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-18
EDITO RIAL
rhe Insurrection Against Cannon.

The Insurrection Against Cannon
The latest insurrection in the House of Represen-
fafives is the most sensational violent, and deter
mined of ALL Uncle Joe is not only detied but bit
teriy denounced by his own party associates ne
Preventative Cooper, republican IN good standing
from Wisconsin. accused him of venting ms spite
upon independent Republicans by reducing them
ON the committees and called upon various insur-
gents TO substantiate his charges; while Mr.. Pom
dexter of Washington and Mr.. Fish, of New York
8beiabored the speaker in a way that caused the
Democrats to jump and to shout for JOY. The bat
tie ragged all night and this article is writ
VI fen it is still going. Speaker Cannon has refused
to make ruling on the point in issue and Repre-
sentative Norris the originator OF the trouble, says
that if this course is persisted in it must eventually
lead to anarchy in the House. That Speaker Can
non will be deposed, and another speaker elected
The trouble originated in this wise:
Through the Committee on Rules the Speaker
has maintained absolute control OF Legislation
The committee consists OF five members, ap-
pointed by me Speaker, has large authority and IS
under The complete domination of Cannon.
Ever since the insurgent movement started one
of its chief objects has been to get committee on
rules elected by the members. An effort was made
. a year ago to bring this about but failed
Insurgent Norris Republican of Nebraska,
thought Thursday afternoon that the psychological
moment had arrived, and, drawing from his pocket
creased and frayed paper, which ne had carried
with him since the opening of the session IN De-
cember, he asked permission to introduce "a reso-
-lutiea privileged under the Constitution of the
United States.
B Uncle Joe was taken unawares, and the resolu-
ton was read as follows:
Resolved That the rules of the House
be amended as follows:
.sTht Committee Rules shall consist
of fifteen members nine of whom shall be
members of the majority party, and six
of whom shall be members of the minority
party to be selected follows:
''The States of the Union shall be di-
vided by committee Of three, selected by
the House for that purpose into nine
groups each group containing
may be an equal number of members be-
longing to the majority party. The States
reuf the Union shall likewise be divided into
six groups each'group containing near
as may be equal number of members
belonging to the minority party"
& CONSERVATION ensued when it was discovered to
he the Insurgent Democratic scheme TO capture the
COMMITTEE ON Rurs. The resolution provided that
y...14s1vr s1ruuir consist uf fifteen members
i country should be divided, by special com
fnittee of three TO be elected by the House, into
snine zones the Republican members in each OF
isch should elect Republican member of the
s-s~ ana there should also be division OF
the country into six zones, the Democratic members
ii each to elect Democratic member of the Rules
Committee. The resolution also provided that the
speaker should not be eligible to membership or
the committee
The point made that the resolution was out
y Df order and the speaker is privileged to render
his decision such point at pleasure. Under
the circumstances Uncle Joe exercised his authori
~ and opened wide the doors for debate.
.~sIt is battle royal and no matter what the
present issue may be, the end is not yet The rule
4 of Speaker Cannon has been tyrannical and has be
come intolerable. Independent men, whether in
or out of the Republican party, will not submit
longer it. 1t is fight for independence and
that sort of fight in this country is quite to
win ont in the long