The Washington herald., 1910-02-15

Abuse and Attacks on Him.
Speaker Cannon stepped down from his
throne yesterday and delivered q
speech from the floor of the House
Uncle Joe started out to indose the
rivers and harbors bill, which was up
for consideration before the House in
Committee of the Whole. but he soon
switched to the subject of newspaper
abuse and the rules Of the House.
To see the Speaker defending the rules
from the floor was sight that cheered
the hearts OF the insurgents. They took
the Speakers words as best OF evidence
that he is worried over the campaign
being waged against him. especially the
talk OF an enlargement OF the rules COM
mittee from five TO eleven members.
II was the first time in the present ses-
sion that Uncle Joe has spoken from the
floor
The Speaker had handed his gavel 70
Representative Dalzell, OF Pennsylvania.
and had sauntered over TO the Republican
side OF the chamber. He was listening
to the rather desultory debate, when sud
denly the spirit seemed to move him. and
up he jumped
Says 10000 Bills Are Pending.
Here Is what the Speaker had 20 say
about the rule Of the majority IN the
House:
in the great mass OF business that is
covered by 1900 bills pending before the
various committees. no man ever lived
who could exhaust all of them. We
must follow the committees.
NO Congress will ever exist unless God
in His infinite mercy lengthens the hours
OF the day and the days In the year.
1T is for us. while We occupy TEN
porarily the places that we do occupy.
TO preserve the machinery by which a ma
jority can transact the public business.
and 10 preserve Il Cooking into the faces
OF the gentlemen on the other side 20
that when the wisdom OF the American
people and the favor Of God may give,
perchance. in the fullness OF years. a ma
jority 10 them. they Will have the rules
and the order OF procedure, the product
Of the experience Of 10 years. unham-
pered.
Thus they may run the business Of
this House and glorify in the considera-
tion of the river and harbor bill and all
other bills FOR the advantage, not Of men
Of their organization alone. but for all the
100000 people. And while We SEEM
ingly strut and fret. declaim and are
erviewed-constantly in the public
MISUNDERSTANDING ell that. the peo-
pie OF the United States Will hold respon-
sible from time 10 time the party in
power for legislative results. and unless
procedure TO achieve those results they
Will not have full power, although they
may be In the majority.
Fake Information Fished For.
II expect that we will continue 10 re-
ceive all kinds OF correct information and
faxed information that is ashed for. here
and there, In order that our great metro
politan journals, at least some Of them,
may continue TO make their papers from
day 10 day, like the Yankee made his
razors-to sell. daughter
But I desire 10 say 20 gentlemen on
this side OF the House and to gentlemen
on that side Of the House that out Of the
two great organizations, the minority
from time to time putting the majority
on its good behavior and seeking to
become the majority. will come correct
legislation and correct appropriations.
and IL we lose sight Of our own impor-
lance and Of our own position for the
time being. there viii come IN our places
better and wiser men who Will not lose
sight Of the necessity. Where response
bility rests. there must be power for the
majority 10 move on
Uncle Joe's reference TO the possibility
in the remote future Of a Democratic
House was greeted with laughter. but It
is likely that the Speaker intended this
as & delicate hint as TO what might be
more Immediately in store for the Re
publican party If the chickering's and con-
troversies within the party continue.
There Is no doubt that Uncle Joe is
more exercised at this time than he has
ever been before over the possibility Of
the success Of the movement against him.
Uncle Joe has spent a lot Of time re-
Gently on the floor Of the House hob
nobbing with and buttonholing the mem
bers, and his obvious desire 10 be agree
able has excited comment.
Before he referred to the rule Of the
majority in the House. the Speaker had
turned his mind back TO the time when
he voted for the creation Of the Missis-
sippi River Commission. He said that he
had TO meet the opposition then of the
great papers in Chicago and justify his
vote to an agricultural district.
But I thanked God then. as I thank
Cod now said the Speaker. that that
constituency had the breadth and intelll-
gence and the patriotism to stand by me
a. the polls"
The Speaker said that he had gathered
enough kindergarten instruction on HIS
recent trip down the Mississippi River
to feel justified for his former vote. and
also 10 justify his voting for and sup
porting the present river and habor bill.
as a member OF Congress.
I'VE have 90,b00.OO0 people in this coun-
try now" said the Speaker. When fully
populated and developed, we will have
100000 COO. Already We have almost one
half OF the railroad mileage of the earth.
one-third Of the products of the
civilized world back and forth to the
market Long before tho 500.000,0)O people