Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-01-06
HOW INTERESTS
RALLIED TO The DEFENSE OF.
CAR CANNON.
His Spe akerShip Being in Doubt Last
March, the "SyStem" OverlOSdS
Telegraph Wires and r1eSSen0er
Service, Stiffening BaCkbOnes OF
Wavering New Members,

Inc organization Of the 'insur-
gents produced cOmmotion in the
camp of Aldrichism and Cannonism.
During the week just previous to the
meeting of usual Congress on March
18th, there was unusual activity and
excitement in Washington. Big Busi-
ness rallied to its own. United States
Senators were telegraphing and tele-
phoning to bring influences at a dis.
tance to bear on wavering Repre-
sentatives. Members of the House
belonging to the System were doing
the same service. 1t was no secret
that most of the Cabinet officers were
directly and actively aiding Cannon
Secretary Hitchcock, chairman of the
Republican National Committee, was
especially active against the Progress
sives. Jim Watson of Indiana, ex-
1 member of Congress and defeated
candidate for governor, and the
whip of the House, was rounding
up the members for the Republican
caucus which was to be held on Sat-
urday evening, March 18th. Watson
! was given for headquarters the room
in the Capitol formerly used by the
Speaker; and a dozen or more mem
bers of Congress were coming or 60
Ing to execute his orders. Newly
: elected members coming to Washing
ton for the first time were received
with unusual courtesy and attention,
William Mckinley, of Illinois, a sup
+ porter OF Cannon, inaugurated a new
feature in official society; he gave
a dinner. and reception at his home
for the purpose of enabling the new
members to meet-those with 'eX-
/ perience. Previous to this delight
full social departure, new members
had been treated as freshmen Aid
| rich and Cannon had 'hurryup'
confesence on Monday, March Sth,
and shortly afterwards went to the
White House and were in consulta-
tion with the President for an hour
and a half. During the week, Mr..
Payne, chairman of the committee
on Ways and Means, President
Sherman, Cannon, Aldrich, jim Wat
son and many others urged upon
President Taft the necessity of stand
ing by Cannon, the party and the
rules. On March 11th, Watson said,
! President Taft has made it perfectly
plain that he is opposed to any move
ment against the House rules, On
Saturday, about noon, Vice-President
Sherman and Cannon were with
President Taft for an hour. Sherman
leaving the White House in an auto
mobile to catch train for New York
and Speaker Cannon speeding in his
automobile for the Capitol to lead the
fight against the insurgents. How
\ Cf !,
deal between Cannon and Tammany,
and what was his part in that trade?
by Saturday, the tide of tele-
grams from all over the United States
had set in. The long distance mes
sages from Senators and Represen-
tatives, political leaders and lobbyists
| for special interests had set in mo-
tion and instant activity the sensi-
tive System This 'back-firing' by
Big Business commands the admira-
tion of even it's foes because it is
so effective. Every waverer goes
down before it. Some of the Wiscon-
sin members and others who were
veterans in this form of warfare or
ganized more sternly for the contest
Both the Western Union and Postal
| Telegraph offices were so overwhelm-
ed with teelgrams that additional
messengers had to be sent for from
Baltimore and other cities. BY noon,
March 18th, 65 per cent of the West
ern Union kilograms were not de-
livered owing to the unusuaf de-
mands on the office and messenger
service.
"Of course, Cannon was nominated
in the Republican caucus Saturday
evening, March 18th. The Progress
sives were making war primarily on
Cannonism, not on Cannon. Most of
the Progressives did not attend the
caucus. But Cannon was there,
standing guard at the only exit, herd
ing his followers like his prototype,
Jethro Bass, and determined to ruin
politically any member Of Congress
who opposed his nomination. -
William Kittle, in The Twentieth
Century for January.