New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-19

Washington. March IS
IiaE REAL QUESTlON.-En Entertaining
az are ;he details az the titanic struggle
now taking place IN the House 81 Repre-
sentativcs. the most interesting question
o. thc effect which victory for one side az
the other viii have on the fortunes of the
Republican party. and with each side de-
tomined 10 exaggerate the probable results
70 serve It's own purpose that question is
NOT easily answered. There are many
shrcwd political Judges. however. who are
convinced that the defeat 81 Speaker can
non az this time will Insure a Republican
majority IN the next HOUSE. while a vic
tory for che Speaker would insure a re-
Verssl Of the present majority. The one
valuable asset with which the Democrats
expect 20 go intO the campaign is Can
Eonisn." With Cannon removed from the
political stage. or a. least robbed Of al
material influence. the Democrats viii be
without any effective issue. one of the
chief. II least reasonable. charges against
President TAFT win have been dispToved,
and, while the Reorganization Of the House
may defeat, in part al least. thu Taft
legislative programme. the voters generally,
il Is believed. will not be disposed 10 make
change I'm the political complexion Of the
house.
THE REGULARS ARGUMENT.-The
regular Republicans naturally insist that
the injury done 10 the Taft legislative pro-
gramme viii far outweigh any advantage
which may accrue from the elimination Of
Mr.. Cannon. They insist that the enlarge
ment Of the Committee on Rules and the
expulsion Of the Speaker-for that is what
81, in,
chaos; that il win be weeks before there
VIII he any effective organization. and that
even then the insurgents will be- unable 20
control their Democratic allies. who viii
load the Taft measures with amendments
so radical as inevitably 20 insure their re-
lection by the Senate or their disappnoval
By the President Just how sincere the
regulars are in this argument is difhcult 10
determine at time Of such bitter ami
mostly. The capacity 81 AIr. Cannon for
making loyal friends VAS never better
demonstrated than az this time. when his
supporters stand willing 20 risk their all
In the effort 20 save him from humiliation.
THE INSURGENT ATTITUDE.-The in
surgent Republicans insist with the utmost
vehemence that. apart from the elimination
Of Caanonism. the Taft legislative pro-
gramme is their first concern; that they will
stand shoulder a. shoulder with the regu-
lars IN support Of that programme and
in tie determination 20 prevent its defeat
by the Democrats. They declare that they
have no purpose 10 change any committee
other than that on rules. and that they
do not even wish 10 force the resignation
OF Mr.. Cannon from the Speakership. but
viii be contented with such curtailment Of
his power as must result from an enlarged
Committee on Rules and his retirement
therefrom. II Is. perhaps. difficult for those
long familiar with the conduct OF the House
and acquainted with tho character Of many
81 the insurgents 10 believe that. however
sincere their purpose, their victory al this
time VIII not graVely menace the TAFT pro-
gTamme. sut the contention that 20 de-
prive the Speaker Of his chief power AT
this time viii insure Republican victory
next November is not difficult; 10 accept.
"CANNONISM."-The are some rumors
that the Speaker viii resign If he is de-
posed from the Rules Committee. but the
belief that he will do 50 is not generally
entertained The fact is that the present
night, in 50 far as members OF the House
are concerned, is not on Mr.. Cannon per
scnally, but on the system he represents
Many Of the insurgents have no little re-
spect fOr the ''grand old Roman but they
are convinced that in him is embodied a
system which the House has outgrown and
which the country repudiates. They stand
for freer and fuller debate and a greater
liberty IN the matter Of amendments TO
pending legislation. That their ideals are
. practicable is gravely doubted. The House
of AZ IL Ia
body. made up ~ all sorts and, conditions
OF men. The Democrats. under Speaker
Crisp, We're compelled 10 abandon their
theories of an unrestricted and deliberative
body 10 eat their words regarding the tyr