The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-16
A ny body M ay Take
Whack at His Once
Revered Head.
PRESTIGE GONE,
POWER is ENDED
His Political Death So Sure That
Candidates Are swarming
After Speakcrsl1ip-Diek-
cma, of Michigan, First
to Announce Himself
for Position.

Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l

Especial to The Times Dispatch.l
Washington. d. c., January 15.-The
Cannon organization Of the public Is
disintegrating. Accepting as fact
the retirement of Speaker Cannon from
political prominence at the end Of his
present term, candidates to succeed
him are coming openly into the field
Representative Gerrit j. Dlekema
of Grand Rapids. Mich. announced his
candidacy to-day. Mr.. Diekema lis a
standpatter and friend and follower
OF Mr.. Cannon. Positive knowledge
that the passing of Joseph G. Cannon
was inevitable is the only thing that
could have forced Mr.. Diekema into
the field az an avowed candidate for
Speaker of the House OF Represen-
tatives.
Representative DENLY. a colleague OF
Mr.. Diekema. from Michigan, carried
the tiding to Serene Payne, Republic
can floor leader. and Henry Sherman
Boutel. of Chicago, strong Cannon
men.
Have you heard" said DENLY, that
Diokema is out for tho speakcrstip to
succeed Uncle Joe?'
"Diekema, Dlekema!" repeated Payne:
who the deuce is Diekema?" The
Republican floor leader knows fewer
man In the House.
"oh, we are all candidates IL Mr..
Cannon gets OUT spluttered Boutell.
May that day be far distant" said
Denly cnismatically. as he turned
away.
Mr.. DENLY could not tell what the
Michigan delegation would do in sup
port of Dickema. Charles Il. Town
send is from Michigan also, and he
4. ,l,a = r..
has hecn u near-insurgent. talking
against the Cannon rules and voting
for them.
Mr.. Diekenla is a membcrfof the
House Committee on the Judiciary lie
Mas chairman OF the Michigan lower
House and a member OF the Spanish
Treaty Claims Commission. He sue
cceded Senator William Alden Smith
In the House. and his vote has been
always with the regulars and opposed
to the insurgents.
Thinks 1t Early.
But" said Mr.. DENLY, who knows
whether Mr.. Diekema is to be re-
elected to Congress, whether l am to
be re-clected. whether the House will
by Republican,? 1t strikes me it is a
ftrifle early to determine the speaker
slip question
Other prospective candidates for the
aalscf hip arc being talked of OPEN
~ their delegations There arc
~, i the old guard Dalzell and Ohm
st OF Pennsylvania; Currier. New
J53p,{s sire; Mann. Chicago; Walter I.
III Iowa: Fassett and Parsons,
York; former Speaker j. Warren
) or. OF Ohio, and James A. Tawney,
III rosetta.
Jhe insurgents are perking up after
tfoir recognition as Republicans by
President Taft, and the rosy tndica-
tiors of accommodating strength are
causing them to talk of speakership
candidates. Gardner, Massachusetts,:
Norris, Nebraska; Murdoch, Kansas,
are mentioned In the cloa kroom talk.
Champ Clark and the Democrats
hope to capture the next House.
There Is a rumor that Champ Clark
will be urged to make the presidential
race II he enters the fight he will
not be elected Speaker and Underwood,
of Alabama. will get the Clark fol-
lowing for the speakershlp.
Representative Albert +. Dawson,
of Iowa, announces that he will not be
candidate for reelection by the Re-
publicans of his district. Mr.. Dawson
was secretary to the late Senator Alli-
son, and has served for siN years In
the House. He says he can make more
money in private life. But Mr. Daw-
ron has been regular and supporter
If Cannon. Tho insurgents under Sem
ators Cummins and Dollivcr have set
iowa aflame With insurgency. and Mr..
Dawson's scat was threatened by an
lnsurgcnt. He had bitter fight on
hand to secure a denomination.
May Drop Out.
1t is reported that other stand pat
ters are considering adoption of the
Dawson course. especially those stand
ALTERS who come from the Middle
West. Every oneFof them has u fight
for denomination on his hands. 1t is
predicted by those best acquainted
With conditions In Kansas, Nebraska
and Iowa that not single Represen-
.tatIve save those or insurgent stripe
will be returned to Congress. raw-
ney. Of Minnesota, chairman or tho
Public Committee on Appropriations.
and Cannon leader. has a bitter fight
on his hands, the outcome OF which
his colleagues cannot forecast Mr.
,rawney has gone back on the con-
gressonal campaign committee which
has charge of distribution of cam
paign funds, and this may help some.
The Insurgents In Minnesota expect
no assistance from the congressional
committee.
Tho authoritative statement of the
Presidents attitude toward the in
surgents has served to define the eH.
act position of the President In re.
spect to Speaker Cannon as nothing
else could
The speaker is no longer a political,
sacred COW TO be bowed down to and [
reverenced. 1t is lawful to take a
whack at him and still retain onesl
Republcanism. Moreover the elucida-
lion Of the Presidents position empha-
sizes what has been insisted upon in /
these dispatches since last October.
that the president believes the Speak,
oil H has outlived his usefulnss and
should be retired, at 5
Growing knowledge OF this is what
has startled the disintegratlon8oc the |
Cannon organization, and as this
1T lccnlnusd on rage TSu--Columll 80
. ~ d & l3.