The San Francisco call., 1910-03-18
CANNON'S POWER
NOW TREMBLING
IN THE BALANCE
Motion to Amend House Rules
Intended to Break the Iron
Rule of Speaker
lnsurgent Republicans and DEM
Ocrats Wage Bitter Battle
on Measure

ersl hours TO hings he appeared on the
floor, and in direct answer to speech
or Cooper OF Wisconsin. defended his
sction in having denoted in committee
seniority and from chsirmanships such
men as Fowler OF New Jersey, Cooper
OF wisconsin, Murdoch OF Kansas and
others. He placed the responsibility
for their punishment upon their re-
calcitrancy in party measures. men
tioning in particular the attitude of the
New Jersey member on the emergency
currency law.
Representative Underwood of Ala
hama, who, with Representative Champ
Clark, had been in charge of the fight
conducted by the democratic forces
throughout the day, said, at 1890:
1T is apparent we can do nothing
until the speaker rules on the point
Of order which is pending. The house
can not compel him to rule. We are
keeping our members here and the
victory tonight viii rest with the side
best able TO hold its men for vote.
In any event, it is evident that a ma
iority Of the house favors amending
the rules, and we can bring il up again
tomorrow or any other day.
A Remarkable Situation
This fight against time is in the
hands Of the speaker and he alone can
stop it. II is certainly a most re-
markable situation where a majority
OF the house. led by the speaker him
self maintains filibuster like this"
Representative Dwight, the repub-
lican whip. at the same time announced
that Il republican absentees, who were
impaired with democrats, were on the
way TO Washington.
They are coming from New York,
Philadelphia and more distant points. -
he said. Some viii arrive before mid
night; others not until tomorrow.
With these additional votes we hope
10 stem the tide"
Aim of Insurgents
For several months the insurgents had
heen looking forward to this culmina-
tion of their efforts TO undermine the
power of the speaker, but there had
been little or no thought Of any possi-
bility that the battle for ascendency
would be fought SO soon.
When Norris presented his resolution
this afternoon he insisted the language
Of the constitution gave his measure
the same privilege Speaker Cannon had
claimed for q resolution relating TO the
taking of the census. He asked that
this resolution be placed before the
house at once.
On both the republican and demo-
cratic sides nearly every member was
in his place, and all realized that At
last the insurgents were locking horns
with the regular republicans for what
might prove a death struggle. On both
sides the whips. realizing the neces-
sity of full voting strength, put in mo-
tion all their resources for the sum-
moning of absent members.
kilograms were sent to those who
were absent from the city on leave. and
taXicabs were ordered to make quick
trips 10 the hotels and homes of the
few members known to be in Wash
ington who We're not on hand
The news of the impending struggle
soon spread about the city and the
galleries became crowded.
Norris. whose seat is on the demo-
cratic side of the chamber. appealed
10 the speaker for ruling in favor
Of the immediate consideration of his
resolution. He insisted that the time
had come for action by the house, that
It might take into it's own hands mat
ters affecting legislation.
Attitude of Democrats
The attitude of the democrats toward
the movement so suddenly put under
way was evident from the prompt in
oorsement of Norris contentious by
Underwood of Alabama and by' Minor
jty Leader Clark of Missouri
Underwood insisted the language of
the constitution made the Nehrs slr MS