Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-02-10
THE RIGHTS OF THE MAJORITY.

THE RIGHTS OF The MAJUtttAI'
It is surprising that there should
be q controversy among the people
Of Kansas over the Speaker and the
rules Of the house. The Republican
party was organized to carry out
the law Of the majority. Its dele
gates chosen by majorities at home
assembled in Chicago, and by a ma
jority nominated Mr.. Taft for Presi-
dent, and the majority wrote the
great platform which is the charter
Of the party. Every member Of
congress is there by the votes Of the
majority in his capacity as repres-
entative.
In the majority they elect the
speaker and choose him because Of
his fitness for the place and be-
cause he is a representative Repub-
lican.
The majority adopts the rules Of
the House. Any day that the meni-
bers are not satisfied with the Speak
er they can elect another. Any day
that they are not satisfied with any
rule Of the house they can abolish
It and make another.
The Speakers attitude is to obey
the rules Of the house. The rules Of
the house are made for the protection
Of the rights Of the members, both
Of the majority and the minority. 1t
is known by every member Of con-
gress that Mr.. Cannon obeys the
will OF the majority without varia-
tIon and without favor. The Speaker
never interferes for or against any
bill while It Is pending In the COM
mittee. When the committee re-
ports a bill and puts Il on the cal
endar 1t is then in possession Of the
house and procedure concerning It
is regulated by the house. The
Speaker cannot interfere either to
advance or to hinder a bill from
being considered.
After a bill has been reported
from the committee any member In
terested In 1t can ask to have II plac-
ed on the unanimous consent cal
endar, and 1t must be placed there.
After three days he may on every
Wednesday of every week, or on Sec
ond Mondays in the month may ask
unanimous consent Of the house to
take 1t up for consideration. The
Speaker cannot hinder this. and II
the majority Of the house desire to
consider 1t, 1t is then considered
and the house has control Of 1t and
can dispose Of 1t in any way that It
decides, and the Speaker cannot. pre-
vent this and never attempts to.
Mr.. Cannon is more prompt toI
obey the will OF the majority than
any Speaker in the history Of con-
gress, The rules Of the house give
nm the l'gtt to recognize members
who rise to speak. This power Of
deciding this II dsi reside somewhere.
There has nsver been an instance, Of
a complaint agalnst Speaker Can
nor for not recognizing the member
Nho ls enr.lad 70 the floor. II ne
ever asks the question. For what
purpose does the gentleman rlssf"
Il Is for the purpose OF protsr'lps
HE rights " others and OF the rega
lar order OF business. and It Is never
fer the purpose OF fayoring one man
over another. or Of favoring one side
against another IN debate. It Is the
absolute impartiallty in the adminIs-
tration Of the rules that has won
for him Tie affection Of the eohrs
congress to q degree that no other
Speaker has ever had. The elamor
o. the Insurgents that his power Of
appointing committees is arbitrarily
used and should b taken sway has
10 foundation and the effect Or nny
substitute they suggest would b e..
istiy he sanA