The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-09
Pinchot Dismissal Puts Pot Of
Politics to BubbIing
Furiously
'pLAN OF FUTURE ACTION
is STILL VERY HAY
Congressman Underwood and Norris
Arc Firm In Belief That Cannon
Forces Can Be Beaten
Very Easily.

washington, January s.-(special-) D
Something akin to political chaos reigned
In washington today. The dismissal OF
pinchot and the rundown of the organ
ization in the House, thus insuring non
partisan committee to investigate the
service with Secretary Ballinger as the
principal, caused flood of gossip reach
ing clear to the republican national con-
vention of 1912
It may take the Senate several days to
dispose of the investigation resolution
which passed the House yesterday. The
debate win be red hot, and fortified by
facts from Clifford Pinchot. Senator Dolii-
yer OF Iowa will be the central hgure-
Tht cause of the ex-forester could not
be in better hands. There are few men
in the Senate who can cope with Doiiiver
in a fight of this nature He not only has
the brains and courage, but is recog-
uized orator who can be depended upon
TO be at his best
The plan of the investigation Is In the
form of joint resolution. and before IL
can be started 1t must pass the senate
and be approved by the President II
may therefore be some time before the
investigation will commence In earnest
The action of the House in taking the ap-
pointing power away from Speaker Cam
non was a frank declaration that he could
not be trusted to appoint an Impartial
committee to represent the House In PROD
ing the charges against Secretary Bal
finger.
Much Speculation.
Speculation was rife today over the lu-
tnre action of the Cannon organization
in regard to the Ballinger investigation
resolution. The belief was current that
tne House organization did not care for
another test of strength on this question,
and would make no struggle against the
bona flde selection OF sc1nmitte by the
House as yesterday ordered This would
involve the selection of four republicans,
at least one and possibly two OF whom
will be satisfactory to the insurgents, and
two democrats. After the approval Of the
Joint resolution by the President the par
liamentary situation would be for the
speaker to recognize Representative Dali
zell, who would propose the list OF six
names TO comprise the committee. Mr..
Dalzell would then move the previous
question and IL the list Is satisfactory
TO the insurgents and the democrats, the
motion will carry. II hitch in the
present programme OCCURS and the mo-
tlon Is voted down, the speaker would
recognize the democratic leader. and
he would propose a committee Of six
men which would muster to its support
the democrats and insurgents. Accord
ing to the gossip here there may be no
necessity for the latter alternative, the
plan being to make the committee sat
isfactory as proposed by Dalzell. 1t Is
considered very unlikely that the Senate
will attempt TO substitute the language
OF the resolution allowing the speaker to
appoint the committee. as is predicted In
some quarters today. 1t would be such
aAfiagrant interference with the prerog
atkves of the House as to swing against
the organization many of its present fol-
iidwers.
Underwood Is Positive.
Representative Underwood of Alabama,
the acting democratic leader, and Repre-
sentative Norris Of Nebraska, the insur-
gent leader. are positive in their opinion
tonight that If the organization attempts
to make another issue on this question
that It will be beaten by an increased MAJ
jority over yesterdays.
The vote yesterday is generally regard
sed among members a. foreshadowing with
every degree Of certainty the defeat Of
Cannon for tho speakership in the next
Congress. On the general legislation pro-
gramme 1t may be expected that this win
ter and next the organization will always
have enough votes to command, but
whenever the issue Il straight cut on
Cannon. yesterdays vote shows that he
in reasonably certain of defeat. Tho
closest friends of the speaker have to
admit that they cannot have a man for
speaker in tho next Congress who cannot
command full party vote. Yesterdays
vote provided that proposition. More