The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-03-24
STILL UNDISMAYED
Reputation of Speaker Cannon Not
Regarded as Downfall of Republic

Regarded as Downfall of Republi-
cans.
Washington, d. c., March 20-The
titanic struggle over the Speakership
of the House of Representatives, which
reached it's climax late yesterday in the
destruction Of the Speakers power in
the committee on rules and the deter
mination by the House to reconstruct
that committee, yet leaving Mr. Can
non the speakership itself, may have
marked not so much the ending of a
three-day battle as the beginning OF
a great political war. The recogni-
tion by all factions of this possibility
was the principal feature today of the
political situation in Washington.
Hardly anybody here thinks that the
condition of affairs after the momen-
tous battle represents any satisfactory
conclusion The Speaker and his
friends appear to interpret the refus-
al of the House to depose him, as JUS
tifying them in claiming to have wrest-
ed victory from defeat, endorsement
from reputation.
The Republican regulars claim that
the insurgents who voted for the
Speaker have returned to the party
fold. The Democrats taunt these in
surgents with recreancy. Nobody
seems entirely happy about the out
come Even in the Senate, the regu-
lars are apprehensive lest the insur-
gent conflagration may spread TO
that House.
Speaker Cannon's defiant speech
last night before the Illinois Repub-
lican Association, in which he con
temptuously denounced the insurgent
members of the House who stood by
him in the final test, as "cowardly
members of Congress without the cou-
rage of their convictions" has. cut tc
the quick these who who responded
with their votes to what they say
they believed to be their duty to the
ed him from utter humiliation.
The, meeting of the insurgents has
as yet been summoned to consider the
future course, but undoubtedly one will
be held within a day or two. The
next conflict, if one comes, will be or
the selection of the new rules commit.
tee to provide for in the Norris reso-
luton. The committee is to be elect.
ed by the House, instead of being ap-
pointed by the Speaker, as hitherto.
The Republicans will choose six
members of this committee and the
Democrats four. Whether the insurg-
ents will be given representation is
unknown. They say they have not ask
ed and do not care for membership Oh
the new committee.
The Democrats will choose then
four members in caucus OF these
four, three are practically certain tC
be minority leaders: Champ Clark
Fitzgerald of New York, and Under.
wood OF Alabama
TO attempt to predict whom The
Republicans will select would be tht
merest speculation.
Every important administration
measure is halted just where it stoo(
last Wednesday.
A Republican high in the councils o
hn my ie ipin TOD
that the worst is now over and tha
permanent peace will shortly ensue.
THE party in the House is NOR,
united now than for long time" h
said There will be no disposition t.
abuse the insurgent members, but OF
the ontrary, an effort TO concilat
them.
This Republican believed that tn
/ eject of the battle of last week woul
he advantageous to all administrator
! legislation now in Congress. He eX
pressed hts opinion thai. all Republi
cans would now stand solidly for tn
Taft program, and that the part
! pledges would be fully redeemed
Much depends upon whether the in
surgent Republicans, who lined up an
prevented the crushing defeat c
Speaker Cannon and his outing frol
the chair, only to be rewarded las
night with denunciation at the Speak
cr'S hands, can be placated.
II was even stated today by a pro
mlnent member of the House that
second assault might occur upon th
Speaker to remove him from til
Speakership, and it was pointed OF
that the insurgents who stood by til
Sneaker might next time be leadiil
tEe fight to down him.