The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-03-18
CHAMP CLARK SPEAKER
Regular Republicans Defeated in Dominating House
Rules-Are Considering the Election of
Democrat Leader in Place of Speaker
Joseph G. Cannon

washington, March lS.-The men,
bers of the house of congress began
locking horns this morning. In a
fiery speech Shackleford of Missis-
sippi declared that by abdicating his
throne the speaker has instituted a
reign of anarchy in the house and
that the speaker had privately in
structed the sergeant at arms to ar
rest absentees, but that he was un-
able to command majority of the
votes.
The insurgent republicans selected
Messrs. Gardner, of Massachusetts,,
Hays of California and Lenroot of
Wisconsin and Norris of Nebraska to
meet similar representatives from the
regulars to arrange for the enlarge
ment of the rules committee of ten
or fifteen members with the elimina
ton of a speaker from the regulars
to meet the insurgents in an effort
to reach a basis of compromise, but
nothing was effected.
At 2:15 %. m. a motion by Repre-
sentative Martin of South Dakota, a
regular, that the house take a recess
until 4 p. m. was carried by vote
of 161 to ISL.
In indescribable confusion and
deafening yells this result was greet
ed This is the fourth test of
strength
The election of the minority leader,
Champ Clark, as speaker is seriously
considered today by some regular re-
publicans. They say they would fol-
low a democrat in preference to a
republican who defies the majority of
his party. This course would be
contingent defeat of the organization
in the present crisis.
It is memorable sight which day
light found still in progress in the
house. A stubborn fflibuster on the
part of Cannon and the house organ
ization, an equally relentless attack
on the part of the allies were the dis
tinguishing features of the hottest
fight yet made to overthrow the
present control of the house. It COM
menced yesterday afternoon and con-
tinued all night with relentless ag-
gression on the part of the democrats
and insurgents, who mastered the
regulars at every point but who could
not force Cannon to rule on the Nor
ris resolution providing for the ap-
, pointment of a rules committee with
the speaker eliminated. 1t was ex
traordinary in many ways. For in
stance, 1t was an odd spectacle of
the house preponderously republican
ordering the arrest of absentees of
that party, on motion OF the demo-
Gratis, carried by democratic votes.
Not in many years, and observers
say in fact there is no precise para
llel suggested that the house re-
NAMED in session all night, and that
after an all day session, and until
this afternoon, when they retired,
weak and weary, the game majority
voted for brief recess.
Washington, March 1S.-At 2
o'clock this morning the house, by
1874 to 1876, defeated for the third
time a motion to recess until 11:55
a. M, and the filibuster of the re-
publican regulars was resumed.
Washington, March II. - With
Speaker Cannon's power in the house
of representatives hanging in the bal
ance, his supporters fencing for time,
ana no one III pOSlIlOu W Sdy WudL
the outcome would be, the fiercest
battle probably that ever has been
waged against the house rules OBJ
liberated party lines in the historic
chamber tonight.
1t had been raging for seven hours
at II o'clock tonight, the hour when
the regulars believed they could rally
their strongest force for the final
clash that was to determine whether
the insurgent republican and demo-
cratic coalition was powerful enough
| to unhorse the regular organization.
Cannon Men Fight for Time.
At that hour the Cannon forces
were plainly in the minority, and
were filibustering to prevent the
crucial test. 1t had been reported by
republican whip John Dwight, Of New
York, that requirements were COM
ing from New York and Philadelphia
and the Cannon men were hanging on
like grim death, hoping the handful
of men, supposed to be on the New
York express, would be sufficient to
| turn the tide.
A new committee on rules, with
the speaker ineligible for member
ship-the issue was as real as that.
The pending question for hours was
| resolution by Representative Nor
ris, of Nebraska, amending the rules.