Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-07-02
SPEAKER NARROWLY ESCAPED
BEING DEPosED IN CLOSING
HOURS OF SESSION..
HIS SUBSISTENCE ALL
THAT SAVED HIS HEAD
Cannon Good in Closing Hours and
Failed to Arouse His Opponents
Some Insurgents Believed Cannon as
Speaker Valuable Political Asset in
Especial Correspondence

none escaped being thrown out Of the
chair OF the speaker in the closing hours
Of the session which has just ended by
only the breadth OF hair.
How nearly the speaker came to
being ousted has Just become known.
J 1t was not known on the last day OF
7 the session, save to very few men.
The air was tense with expectation in
the house, the last afternoon and even
ing. The wise ones among the regulars
among the insurgents and the demo-
Gratis were looking for something to
explode. And it would have exploded
had somebody touched the trigger. In
that case, in all probability. Uncle
Joe" would not now be speaker and
the head Of the house would either be
vacant or some younger and newer
man would have taken his place.
The story of how close "Uncle Joe"
came to the jumping off place would
furnish the basis OF a drama OF a
novel 1t is certain that the house
situation on that closing day, last
Saturday was alive with dramatic in
terest. What was going on was not
visible on the surface. That Is why
most everybody got the impression
full brotherly fashion. But under the
surface there was trouble. The lead
ers realized the danger At the slight
est warning, the slightest sign of in
surgent or regular getting into action,
there would have been a storm. While
sitting about calmly, men had theft
fighting blood stirred up.
Wanted Him For Campaign Issue.
| For two weeks before the end OF
the session, the insurgents had been
iconferring. They talked over various
plans 1t was difficult to agree. Some
wanted to Gust the speaker Others
did not want to try 1t.
I'VE will get beaten" said some OF
the insurgents.
1--WE don't want to get rid Of Cannon
as an issue" said others.
"If we Dust Uncle joe some man
will be elected in his place who is
even more reacttonary." said still
others.
| This was especially the view OF some
of the Iowa members. who feared that
&! If Cannon was relegated, Representa-
tive Walter I. Smith would be made
speaker Judge Smith Is popular
with the progressives of the Iowa dele
cation on personal grounds but some
of them would hseitate a long time be-
fore they would support him for
speaker holding that he would be more
dangerous TO the insurgent cause than
/ Cannon because a man of more ability.
ANY how, they didn't want to be put
mn against the need of picking new
speaker.
Matters Allowed to Drag.
The insurgents reached no definite
decision and then along came the COM
promise change in the rules for the
alleged purpose of making 1t easier to
get a measure out Of committee when
efforts were being made to pigeon
hole it. This was looked on by many
Insurgents as a change in the rules
so worded as to be of little benefit.
Still it made 1t harder to get fight
started to Dust the speaker and per-
haps provide for committee on COM
mittees.
Things dragged on in an uncertain
sta te until the last day. Then, the
leaders of all elements were looking FOR
an outbreak. The word went round for
everybody 10 be on hand and not to
hasten off home as is usually done
before the final day. The result was
that while on the last day and espe-
cially the last evening fifty members
tendance in ordinary circumstances,
the membership was nearly all pres
ent. Almost every man was in his
seat, feeling deep down in his boots
that trouble was brewing. At the same
time, all was outwardy calm.
Quiet On the Surface.
How peaceful everybody seems to
be and how quietly everything is clos
ing up" remarked a regular to his
insurgent neighbor.
Yes said the insurgent, land just
turn of the hand and a storm would
break loose"
All the quiet was on the surface. One
of the insurgent leaders had already
prepared in his pocket resolution de-
claring the chair Of the speaker va
cant He had consulted only few Of
his insurgent colleagues. But he knew
that If the proper psychological NOM
ent arrived, almost the whole insur-
gent strength and the whole democra-
tic strength would united for the res
o1ution.
1t was reported about that Speaker
Cannon was going to make a speech !
Would he strike at the insurgents?
That was the question. Would he use
language toward them such as he has
used at times?
Cannon subsidized.
The situation was such that had the |
speaker attacked the insurgents and
criticised them as he has in past |
speeches the resolution to throw him |
out Of the speakers chair would have |
Instantly been sprung. The member
who had 1t in his pocket was waiting |
and hoping the speaker would invite
fight by using Incorporate language
about insurgency. This insurgent lead |
er knew that If Speaker Cannon made |
the opening for resolution to GUST |
him, such a resolution would go thru
He reasoned on the other hand that If
Speaker Cannon breathed peace, then
the house would not be in a mood to
Gust him and it would be useless to |
try 1t.
Everybody knows what happened. |
Speaker Cannon was in a forgiving |
mood. He made q speech to which |
none could take exception SO far as the |
personal references in it were concern
ed. He hoped all would be returned
and he was not at all belHgerent. Pos
sibly, Speaker Cannon got wind Of
what he might expect II he went on the
warpath. Anyhow, he was tame. A
word of abuse from him and out would
have come the resolution. 1t would
have gone in as of the highest privi- !