The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-18
| SPEAKER CANNON DOES NOT FIGURE
A Question of Majority Party Having Power to Name House Commit tee, Say the Organiza-
 ton Leaders.
By WATTERsoN sTEALEY.

Washington, January 17.-(Special. )-The House organization is making desperate efforts to secure enough insurgent repub- lican votes to eliminate Representative Ollie James of Kentucky and Represent tative Rainey of Illinois from the Ball finger Investigating committee, substitute ing for their names those of two demo- crats whose designation is desired by the speaker.
 It is the belief of the organization that if it is successful in this move it's de- feat of 10 days ago in the House will be partly offset and the way paved for re- storing the prestige of the organization. From every quarter in the organization camp today came criticism of the demo- cratic caucus action in electing Messrs. James and Rainey. The insurgents had their ears filled with it, and were sur rounded by organization men begging them to stand by the party and not be dominated by the democrats.
 This is not a question of poor old Uncle Joe,'' said the organization leaders. He's down and out. It is a question of the ma jority party having the power to name a House committee'
 The names of quite a number of insnr- gents, who, for the present at least. are persuaded to take this view, were tri- umphantly carried to the speakers room and the declaration is made tonight by an organization follower that from present indications enough insurgents have been won back to the speakers side to insure the defeat of the democrats and those in- surgents who are of the belief that 1t Is the right of the minority to select it's own men.
 Democrats Are Outnumbered.
 According to the insurgent-d democratic view the so-called partisanship of Messrs. James and Rainey Is a small matter to the organization. They point out that the re- publican membership on the joint com mittee outnumbers the democrats two to one and if the question is made one of politics the republicans are not placed at a disadvantage The meat in the cocoa nut, according to some of the few un- persuaded insurgents is that the organ ization scores a victory and heralds the return of the insurgents as a victory for so-called Cannonism. Any other two dem oerats who had been named by demo- cratic caucus, 1t is explained. would be equally objectionable to the organization.
 The organization also figures that the oefeat of Messrs. James and Rainey would aHord opportunity for a possible division among the House democrats. In case the organization can assure itself that if can control the situation, it is reported that the committee will contain the names Of two democrats who would be peculiar ly objectionable to their party by reason of former votes in the House.
 Representative Moon of Tennessee and Representative Howard of Georgia, for instance, among those mentioned as possible candidates of the organization Their election and willingness to serve would, according to organization reason- Ing. throw bombshell in the democratic ranks and might be the means of dem- ocratic caucus being called to denounce them. This would be pie for the organ ization and is confidently looked for ward to.
 willing to concede that the speaker will be able to find two democrats who will consent to serve. They believe that in view of the action of the democratic caucus the party will follow up the ad- vantage gained by it when the appoint ment of the committee was taken out of the hands of the speaker and placed with
 
 out-voted their idea is that the two men selected against their wishes should de- cline to serve and the party could go to the country with the declaration that the republicans in their efforts to white wash MT. Ballinger had refused to place men in whom the party has confidencs on the committee.
 Using Screws of Persuasion.
 It is stated that in the event the or ganization finds that it cannot control the committee by a vote of the House the names of Messrs James and Rainey will be presented and the matter will end there. In the meantime the screws of persuasion are being put on the House insurgents.
 Senator Hughes of Colorado and sen- ator Clarke of Arkansas, who had been practically agreed upon for the two ml- nority members of the Senate side of the committee, have declined to serve It is understood that Senator Hughes feels that certain speeches made by him In Colorado criticising the forest service would make 1t improper for him to serve while Senator Clarke is busy with other congressional duties. Senator Paynter Of Kentucky and Senator Fletcher of Flor ida will therefore go on the committee as the minority members.
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