Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1910-03-05
THE spEAKERsHrp AND THE RULES.

THE sPEAKRRsHIP AND THE RULES.
Mr.. Cannon ought not to he a candi.
date for reelection to the Speakership.
l took this position Immediately after
the organization of the House at the
Special Session last April. The Repub-
lican party then had upon its shoulders
the responsibility of revising the tariff,
and it was not an opportune time to en-
gage in general battle over the Speak
ership. Mr.. Cannon has now been hon
ored with four terms If Member of
the 62d Congress, / shall support some
other Republican for the Speakership.
There should be man in that position
who represents in a positive way the
| forward policies of the Administration.
The House Rules were amended in
important particulars in the spring of
1909. These changes are the most radi-
| cal that have been made since the days
of Speaker Reed. / voted for these
amendments and assisted in their pass
age. The public, apparently, has not
generally understood the nature ofthese
amendments. UndeE1he amended rules
Member may notice his bills for unan-
imous consent, aud may force consider
alton on Calendar Wednesday, without
asking or receiving consent ofthe Speak
er. If Representative now fails to
gain consideration for his measures, he
cannot consistently charge his failure to
the Speaker or to the Rules.
CANNoNIsM AND ALDRIcRIsM.
"Cannonism" has been the text for
magazine and newspaper writer's until
it has come to stand for almost anything
that the people are opposed to. More
definitely, it is made to represent the
exercise of arbitrary power in legisla-
ton, or the promotion of the 'fnterests"
at the expense of the public. In both
of these respects, it is only truthful to
say, that so far as l am able to discover
In Washington, the facts are much over
drawn. AS to any influence or dicta-
ton of the Interests" "Cannonism" is
not in the same class with "Aldrichism. ="
Many people believe that Cannon has
little or nothing to do with the "inter-
estsj" while it is not generally denied
that Aldrich is in close relations to some
of the large industrial concerns. 1t does
not follow that he subverts his official
power to private ends. Upon that | ex-
press no opinion. The House of Repre-
sentatives is peoples body. 1t is for
the peoples cause by large majority,
and representations to the contrary are
untrue.
My vote and my voice have been
against the encroachments of the Gin
terests," and in favor of broader and
greater rights for the individual citizen.
My public efforts shall continue TO be in
the same direction.
declared for the Roosevelt policies
and for Roosevelt for President in the
Republican State Convention in 1902.
1t was at least year and a half after
that date before some prominent Repub-
lican leaders in the State discovered
their position upon these important
questions.
Since then campaigns have been fought
and won in South Dakota and sister
States upon the Roosevelt policies as
the chief basis of political advantage.
| accord sincerity of purpose to others.
l claim the same recognition for my
self.
There was not single administration
policy advocated by President Roose-
welt, except ship subsidy, that did not
have the support of my colleague and
myself, not reluctantly, but heartily and
actively. My colleague was a member
of the Committee that prepared the
Railway-Rate and Anti-Rebate legisla-
ton. We both supported it on the floor
of the House. l had the honor of pre-
pairing the first resolution of investiga-
ton of the business methods and char
acter of the great corporations, which
was in sense the beginning of the ap-
nj nf Of
remedy for corporate lawlessness, pol
icy warmly advocated by both Roose-
velt and Taft. l have for years insisted
upon Federal control Of large interstate
corporations as the most practical means
of enforcing obedience to our antitrust
laws, and am urging legislation Of this
character upon the attention of Con-
gress and the country. There is no
more vital Roosevelt-Taft policy than
this.
Legislation like this, of far-reaching
application, cannot be accomplished in
day, nor year. 1t required ten years
to pass the homestead law. The case
must first be won before the bar of pub
lie opinion. The public conscience
must first be aroused to the peril of the
situation. The public judgment must be
convinced that the remedy proposed is
necessary, and that it will be effectual.
The question involved is no less ques-
ton than the permanence of represent
ative government. Shall the trusts run
the Government, or shall the Govern
ment dissolve or control the trustsp
l am only one among many who are
laboring conscientiously to solve these
problems But refuse to have my DO
sitions misrepresented or my motives
maligned. Efforts of that sort cannot
deceive single individual in Washing
ton, where public men are known and
weighed for what they are. Such efforts
cannot deceive the fair-minded, think
ing people of South Dakota.
Whether l shall continue for another
term in Congress will depend upon the
decision of the Republican voters at the
Primaries. With that decision 1 shall
be content.
EBEN W. MARTIN.
Waohipofop Eahr,oru % 1O1n