The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-27
Insurgents Are Hearing 0pin-
ions from Constituents
REFORMS WILL CONTINUE
Rank Outsider Not Member of
the House he Elected to the
Speakers Chair

| Washington, March 26.-Many of the
| insurgent republicans of the House,
who last Saturday voted to retain
Speaker Cannon, are hearing from
home according to reports in circu-
lation about the capitol. These re-
ports are said not to be at all reas-
surfing. Following close upon this in
formation comes statement from sew
eral persons that the war against Can
nonism" will cause ultimately the de-
thronement of the speaker, the cleo
| tion of successor, and complete
reformation of the House rules.
| The overthrow of the speaker and
the taking away from the speakership
of all power to influence legislation
are aimed at. This will be accom-
plished, it is claimed. by a combined
r>+e of democrats and insurgent re-
cations which will substitute in
stead of the old order parliamentary
ruling of equity on all points. The idea
of placing in tho speakers chair
pure parliamentarian, not member
of the House, who would be entirely
influenced by considerations of parti-
san advantage, was pointed out by Rep
resentatfve Poindexter of Washington
and others as the logical recourse.
Under the constitution the House
may choose the speaker who is not
member of the body. Representative
Poindexter who is one of the promi-
nent members of the insurgent body.
said:
ssThose initial reforms which we have
laccomplis cd must be followed by 9TH
ers. The whole trouble In which the
House finds itself Is caused by the join
ing Of the power OF the speaker with
that of the leader of the majority. The
English plan OF having an expert par
Humanitarian instead of politician as
a presiding officer is the only correct
one. As long as we select a party
leader as speaker Just SO long will we
have partisan and unfair rulings from
the chair.
When the House adopted the Norris
resolution the other day 1t was a vote
OF no confidence in Speaker Cannon
and he should have resigned. AS he
did not do so we should have de-
posed him. With that accomplished
think we should elect Mr.. Hinds.
believe majority of the House would
vote for It, Surely the democrats and
the insurgents who voted against Can
non last Saturday and believe a large
number of other insurgents and So
called near insurgents will vote for It
when the temper of the people of the
ic ota1x 4,.<l-
question"
Victor Murdock of Kansas, another in
surgent leader. said:
The movement to reform the procedure
OF the House has just begun Before this
session ad1ourns we will have accom-
plished great many things I hear rad
icals on this side who never before
were willing to admit that the rules or
anything else needed changing now dis
cussing ways and means of revising the
rules and making them better.
Not in 90 years have such liberal ideas
regarding the government OF this House
prevailed among members as now and 1t
comes from the open meetings instead Of
the secret sessions. OF course, the mill
tary and naval and the several other COM
mittees would have to meet In secret
occasionally as matter of public policy.
But secret ways of doing business here
are on the wane and will soon be over.
Many interesting and perhaps startling
Developments will result before this House
adjourn sine die."
Other insurgents expressed themselves
along similar lines. It is certain that a
number Of the leaders Of the insurgents
have in mind at least two things for
this session. They are first the deposition
of Speaker Cannon unless he voluntarily
retires; second, the establishment Of q
committee on committees All Of the
insurgents expressed themselves as de-
string to see the Presidents legislation
out OF the way before hostilities break out
again. One insurgeant who would not al
low the use of his name said unless Speak
er Cannon resigned he would be deposed
before the session forcihly. He said he
was a part of the system. and must
go. If 1t does not happen before. he said
1t would come about the last days Of
the session.
The proposal to elect as speaker Mr..
Kinds occasioned much comment from
those who were made aware Of It. Mr..
Hinds is a republican ana candidate
for nomination for Consress~<rom New
England His present duty is to formulate
rulings for Speaker Cannon.
Il