The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-18
Clark and Underwood Lead
 Combined Forces to Big \ Victory
CANNON IS DEFEATED BADLY IN CONFLICT
Regular Republicans Fear Utter Ruin of Their Party and Are Doing All in Their Power to Save the Remnants
By PATTERSON sTEALEY

lltical and parliamentary tornado of far reaching consequence burst upon the House of Representatives this afternoon when the democrats of the House, re-en- forced by the republican insurgents, who stand against Cannonism, undertook boldly to so revise the rules as to strip the speaker of arbitrary power At late shour tonight the crux of the situation is that the speaker, who during his incum- bency has bitterly denounced dilatory tactics and filibustering. is now resorting 10 1t in order to prevent a vote which he Tears would shear him of all power.
 Lieutenants of the speaker are tonight securing the city to bring in votes which he can depend on to sustain a point of order against a resolution providing for the reelection by the House of rules committee of 15 instead of the present Cannon committee. Under the rules the speaker has the power to indefinitely pro- long the debate under the guise that he needs more time in which to consider the point of order made by MT. Dalzell. The speaker is. of course, ready to rule in favor of MT. Dalzelrs point at once, but he fears that if he should bring the de- bate to close the House would decide neainst him. He is thus staving off a vote in hope that his lieutenants will re- bort to him that the organization can win. Under the leadership of Representatives Clark and Underwood. the democrats and insurgents combined defeated the or ganization in all votes taken during the day, culrninatlng in the defeat of the prganizations motion of a recess tonight by vote of 147 to 142. Not since the days of Reed has there been such chaos as there was existing in the House during Ehe struggle.
 Fight to the Finish
 fThe opponents of the speaker possessed enough votes in the absence of some of he regulars to accomplish any reason sfie purpose, and as both the insurgents md the democrats had furnished one an- other assurance that they would fight to he last ditch, the Cannon organization egime was only a matter of few days. The storm which broke this afternoon the one that had been developing for months, and the votes by which the Bpeaker was on three separate occasions efeated yesterday and Tuesday were only he immediate forerunners of the excite nent and chaos which came this after ioon. Representative Norris of Nebraska opened the fight toward the end of the afternoon by offering a resolution provid- ng for the creation of new committee pn rules to be composed of nine repub- jeans and six democrats, of which the peaker shall not be member, to take the place of the present committee on rules, f which the speaker is eX-officio chair han, and which he has for years donni- lated so as to control legislation. This esolution is the one which those engaged n the revolt against the speaker and hE rules have been desirous of having onsidered since the opening of this win er's session. Never before today were he insurgents able to obtain recognition. Nor did they obtain recognition today for 2e purpose of offering the resolution.
 Recognition came before the speaker and -tl followers were aware of what had a1pened until after Mr. Norris had ob- aimed the floor and the resolution had cen sent to the desk to be read
 One on Cannon
 Representative Norris did not state his purpose when he rose toward the end of n exciting afternoon. Before Speaker 'annon could ask flor what purpose oes the gentlemen arise?" and arbitrarily efuse to recognize the Nebraskan, the alter had stated T rise for a question of he highest privilege under the constitu- ion of the United States Speaker annon did not know the character of the esolution until after it had reached the esk
 Read the resolution" yelled members rom all parts of the House. He saw that c had been outmaneuvered into giving ecognition for a resolution which meant cath to the old regime at time when he leaders knew they lacked the votes ecessary to defeat this bold onslaught pon the rules. At sign from the peaker a point of order was made gainst the resolution by Representative ohm Dalzell, one of the triumvirate of he present objectionable rules commit ee. The insurgents, in alliance with the emocrats, had for two days demon trated that they had enough votes to ver-rule any decision by the chair sus- aiming the point of order. The leaders ,ere helpless.
 Playing for Time
 Instead of ruling on the point of order peaker Cannon indicated that he would Ike to hear arguments of the question order and the House was given free ain for discussion. The Cannon forces oped that the debate might drag along bng enough to have the absentees round- up and the discussion which followed oon jumped from the mere question of rder into a general controversy over the lerits of the Norris resolution. Back nd forth the tide of battle swung across le aisle with the insurgents standing in olid array with the democrats
 Members became so excited that they 'ere unable to retain their seats and Food in crowded array in the space 1T ont of the speakers rostrum or in the isles while the debate was proceeding Speaker Cannon clung tightly to his esk, but said nothin except when allng for order. Exceedingly plain talk as indulged in by both factions of the .publican party The insurbents struck < ut straight from the shoulder regard sss of where the blows fell and when ach telling assault was made upon the regulars" the democrats yelled wildly
 Ruin Faces Party
 As night lowered the debate became lore. acrimonious and the forces of the E .gular republicans were so broken that liver -Tongued J. Sloat Fassett of New ork was compelled to take the floor with a impassioned appeal in which he de < Aared that the adoption of the Norris olution would result in the defeat of
 programme of President Taft and In the republican party. This charge resented by the insurgent republican eakers, who hurled back the taunt thai lless a system os representative govern
 
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