Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-06-16
CONGRESSMAN SMITH
RECEIVES AN OVATION
From His Colleagues In The House
When lie Returned To His
Duties At Washington.

Judge Smith received quite an ovation
when he got back to Washington after
his denomination by the voters of the
ninth district at the primary election,
/ When he entered the house and took his
seat there was tumultuous applause.
The regulars arose EN- masse and crowd
edaround him to extend congratulations
The speaker was finally able to pound
out some semblance of order and the
ninth district congressman was dragged
into the cloak room, there to tell his
eager friends just how it all happened
For two hours he was the recipient of
most enthusiastic congratulations. If
there was vacancy in the speakership
right now Judge Smith would be elected
without doubt.
They had all heard how the Iowa man
was going to be defeated and they We're
anxious to know how he had saTed his
political hide which the other fellows
expected to hang on the fence. And
the papers say that President Taft made
no secret of his pleasure at the success
VI JuuRt Olllltu III dLObn6f
nation; and also that his administration
will probably be Endorsed by the coming
State Convention.
JUDGE SMITH MAY BE SPEAKER
A special correspondent from Wash
ington to the Chicago Tribune says that
Congressman Smith of Iowa is right in
line for the speakership if the Republi
cans have the majority in the House in
the next Congress. The Correspondent
writes as follows:
Far more important to the nation
| than to the local situation in Iowa is the
denomination of Walter |. Smith as re-
publican representative from the Ninth
district. LII Smith be elected and the re-
publicans remain in power the chances
! favor his succession to.Joseph q. Cannon
as speaker of the house. 1T was be-
cause of this possibility of future great
ness that the house today gave him u
great welcome. Regulars and insurgents
extended their congratulations The
reception was looked upon with enyious
eyes by those who have aspirations
| for the shoes of Mr.. Cannon.
Although Mr.. Smith has been charged
with ''Cannonism" it is known here
that he has not been in entire sympathy
with the czar-like tactics of the Danville
sage At the same time he would have
been guilty of base ingratitude had he
denounced Mr.. Cannon or failed to sup
port him upon various important mat
tiers. Recognizing his strength and in
fuence among members, Mr.. Cannon
has given him choice committee posi-
tions and has aided him in getting legis-
lation i'm which the Iowan was interested.
SMITH FRIENDLY WITH INSURGENTS
But Mr.. Smith has so conducted him
self as to maintain friendly relations
with many insurgents. There is today
large number of representatives who
would be willing to elect Mr. Smith to
the speakership if Mr.. Cannon should be
removed. Those who favor Mr.. Smith
believe he would profit by the mistakes
Mr.. Cannon has made and those who
are opposed to him admit he would be
fair and just in his decisions and inter.
pref the rules in accordance with prece-
dent and facts.
What adds to Mr. Smiths chances is
the fact that he is in high favor with
the administration. 1t will be recalled
that the president wrote a letter in his
! behalf to Gen. Granville Nj. Dodge
which the latter made public during the
primary campaign. Mr.. Taft probably
! will do this for various members, and il
would have no significance were it not
for other developments which show the
way the president leans.
happen to know that Mr.. Taft be
lieves Mr. Smith would make an admir-
. able speaker, and he probably would
not hesitate to say so if the speakershiI
fight were on at the present time.