The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-21
EDITORIAL
L. II a Revolmtion7

lnsenh q; Cannon received sharp crack on the
8 head with his own Big Stick, which the insurgent
members of the House of Representatives cohtriVeo
10 wrest from his hand. and had it not been Tor
the cowardie, of the Insurgents, Ms Dir. Cannon
has bl,ntly put it. the Speakers official head
would have been knocked from his shoulders
The logic of the situation demanded that TINS
should be done IL is well enough for insurgents to
saw that il was no personal fight on Joseph Cannon
OF course it is more dignifed to speak of it as
revolution against system But it is impossible
to differentiate Speaker Cannon from Joe Cannon
Joe Cannon had the power and he exercised 1t
ike a tyrant The revolt against him.
Results cannot be had except by
majority. and in the House of Represen
tatrves majority, being responsible
should have full power and should exer-
else that power: otherwise the majority
is inefficient and does not perform its
function The office of the minority is to
put the majority on its good behavior; ad-
vocation. in good faith, of the policies,
which it processes, ready to take ad-
-----sansage of the mistakes of the majority
party and appeal to the country for its
vindication."
That is Mr. Cannon's doctrine. That is his code
Of ethics. He believes that power IS given to be
used and that it is to be used in behalf OF those who
have it and against all opponents The Republi-
cans had plenary powers in the House. Those
powers were concentrated largely in the Commit
tee on Rules, Speaker Cannon was chairman OF
that committee the committee adopted such rules
aS would make Speaker Cannon's control over the
House absolute, and he exercised his control like
d Gar Whom he would he recognized and to
whom he would he gave the silent stare. Whom he
would he heard and to whom he would he turned
the deaf ear 1t was entirely within his power and
discretion and according to his own will and wish
TO promote legislation or to choke it OFT.
Virginia Congressman called at the
Speaker q room and asked Uncle Joe for recogni-
ton on the floor that ne might offer certain bill
tie nature OF which he explained. Not bit OF
I. said Uncle Joe II will be blankety- blanked
II you or any other member shall ever be recog-
nized while am in the chair to introduce any such
blankety- blanked legislation that and If you try
to offer the bill when l am not in the chair, will
be blankety -blanked if ] do not resume the chair
for the purpose, and head you off. y
That story was related to us by the member who
had the experience and that member retired from
Congress when his term expired. He said that a
Democratic member Of the House was largely q
tgure-head under Speaker Cannon tyranny and
he was tired of the job.
But tyranny cannot endure in this fair land Of
freedom. The Big Stick policy will not do. In
the hands of strong man it may be welded with
apparent success for time but defeat by and by
is sure. Mr.. Roosevelt used it with fair success
but he had about reached the limit when he quit
the Whitehouse. Certain it is that he could not
have used it indefinitely.
There have been political bosses ever since the
Republic established but their day was brief
One-lnan rule in the United States in any State
of the Union is intolerabe and impossible. MOI
can any political party afford to abuse its power
The minority have their rights and the people al
large demand that there shall be fair play. Ty
ranny from any source, in politics. in business il
religious circles is to defeat itself. The
American people will not stand for it.
What will be the outcome of this revolution
in the House of Representatives do not fore
east. Fighting within political party is not to bt
taken seriously ON all occasions. 1t is family
quarrel and it is comparatively easy for those who
are of the same household to kiss and make up
1t may well be that the head of the Republican
family will convert this occasion into makeup
party. But is it proverbia that revolutions never
60 backward and If this is genuine revolution il
means serious trouble for the Republican party, il
not its ultimate destruction
Woman's Rights
Dr. Mary Walker who for years has garbec