The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-22
DEMOCRATS ARE
HIGHLY AMUSED
Discussions In Opposing
Ranks Is the Cause
EVERYBODY IS CONFIDENT
Thinks Champ Clark VIII Succeed
Cannon as Speaker of House.
Estimates for River and
Harbor improvements
BY wArTERsoN sTEALEY

Washington, August 21.-tSpec1aL)-
Democratic politicians around head
quarters of the congressional commit
tee have been highly amused the last
few days over that feature of the re-
publican dissension bearing upon the
selection of a speaker to succeed Rep
resentative Cannon of Illinois.
The announcement of the candidacy
of Representative Smith of Iowa has
caused a flood of gossip In the repup-
lican press of the east touching upon
the relative strength of Judge Smith,
Messrs. Olmstead of Pennsylvania, Mann
of Illinois, Weeks of Massachusetts
Tawney of Minnesota. and dozen
others. None of the candidates men
toned differs whit from Mr.. Cannon.
All of them have supported him Loyalty
and without them Cannonism would
have been impossible.
REPRESENTATIVE Longworth Of Ohio,
one of the latest examples 1nsur-
gency, was in his votes one Z the most
subservient of the speakers followers,
and every one at all familiar with
House conditions knows that the repub-
lican House caucus to be held In De-
cember a year will select for the re-
ifA'
been hand in glove with Speaker Can
non on his every ruling. In fact, there
is not republican member mentioned
TODAY as a successor to Cannon who
has not stood by him on every test
vote
Judge Smith, who is recognized as
the leading candidate for the repub
lican leadership, has been a high priest
in the camp of the regulars. He has
served faithfully upon Speaker Can
mons committee on rules and is as fa-
mjliar with the Legislative details and
organization practices as any man In
the House.
Judge Smiths latest achievement was
in Iowa His defeat in the last pri-
mary of Attorney General Byers was
the most important thing he ever did.
Byers had a splendid record as a state
officer He was personally popular
and a progressive from the word go
With all this Judge Smith defeated
Byers, and will be returned to Con-
gress for at least one other term. II
was this signal victory which most
condemns him to the President. 1t is
the same way with every other can
didate men toned for speakership hon
ors.
In the meantime officials of the dem
ocratic committee are confident that
the fraud is too transparent to deceive
and that the public is aware that the
election of a republican House would
only mean the election of Cannon
counterfeit rather than the courageous
figure upon whose shoulders the pea
nut politicians are seeking to shelve
the burden of republican corruption
Democratic officials believe that sin
gle glance at the list of republican en-
tries will be sufficient for the purpose
and that the returns will show that a
democrat, Champ Clark. will succeed Mr..
Cannon. The splendid record of the Mis-
sourian as minority leader is sufficient
to Indicate that under the supervision of
his lieutenant tariff bill will be framed
by the ways and means committee of the
next House which will be put before the
country for comparison with the Payne
Aldrich act and will elect a democratic
President in 1912 whether Mr.. Roosevelt
or President Taft be the candidate.