Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-18
CANNON FACING
DECISIVE fight
DEFEATED BY INSURGENTS IN
REPEATED CONTESTS
CHARGES ARE HURLED BACK ANr
FORTH DURING HOT DEBATE
Speaker Leaves Chair to Defend Him
self Against Accusations Hurled
at Him by Angry
Members
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ward the movement so suddenly put
under way was evident from the
prompt indosement of Mr.. Norris con-
tentions by Mr.. Underwood of Ala
bama and by Minority Leader Clark of
Missouri.
Mr.. Underwood insisted the language
of the constitution made the Nebras-
kan's resolution a matter of the high
est privilege. Minority Leader Clark
reminded the speaker he had said the
house could do anything it pleased,
even to the election of a new speaker
'"The speaker has said an elephant
could be put through the house, if the
house SO desired shouted Mr.. Clark.
'"The speaker" retorted Mr. Cannon,
who until now had watched the pro-
ceedings in grim silence, would be
prepared to rule on that question when
ever any gentleman thinks the minority
has become the majority. But that
presents an entirely different question
from the one now before u.s."
Pleads for "Regularity"
Mr. Clark, opposing any suggestion
to refer the resolution to the commit
tee on rules, declared the committee
consisting of three Republicans and
two Democrats could not be trusted
with a measure curtailing its own pow
ers. The Republican majority of one
on that committee was as great as
their majority in the house, he added,
and" amid laughter, "more reliable"
IF you want to change the rules, "
shouted Mr. Clark, now is the ac-
cepted time"
When the applause had subsided,
! Majority Leader Payne made a strong
and feeling plea for regularity"
Of N ell ~
of the majority of this house." said
Mr. Payne, unless we can exercise it
under the rules of the house. The men
on the other side come today to break
down the rules.
you see the Greeks over there start
ing a revolution at this time in an at
tempt TO reorganize the house COM
mittees," he continued. 1--WE are ready
to hold up the hands of that brave
fighter at the other end of the avenue
President Taft-with his clear vision,
his great interest in the public welfare
and with his great heart beating in
sympathy with the American people.
Now, at this critical time. with an
election coming off, and with the best
interests Of the people at stake, you
who have fought for the Republican
party-have a care that you do not
aid and abet the enemies Of the Re-
publicans."
Inc CloSeSl dllenllOH WAS given "
the words of the Republican leader.
An outburst of applause on the Repub-
llcan side had hardly died out before
Mr.. Poindexter of Washington, one of
the longtime insurgents, obtained the
floor
Upon every question, when a crisis
arises" said Mr.. PoindeXter. what is
!, the practice in this house so far as
the parliamentary procedure is con-
cerned? A special order is brought
out setting aside the rules which have
been extolled by the gentleman from
New York"
Tawney Gets Hot Shot
Mr.. Tawney interrupted and asked
the member from Washington whether
the committee which it was proposed
to create would not be as arbitrary as
any other committee. He asked Mr..
Poindexter whether the two members
of the committee on rules had not been
selected by a Republican caucus.
1T Is more correct to say" inter-
1eeted Mr.. Norris. that the caucus
confirmed the men selected for that
committee by the speaker"
1.-The speaker did not select them"
retorted Mr.. Tawney. 1T was on my
own motion that these members were
selected"
when a resolution comes from the
gentleman from Minnesota it is safe
to say its origin was not very far from
the speaker of this house." shouted
Mr.. Norris.
Uproarious applause, which inter
rupted the proceedings for several
minutes, greeted the Nebraskan's re-
tort
Mr.. Poindexter charged the insurg-
, cnts of the house to bear in mind that
his resolution gave them a chance to
allow the country to see where they
stood.
one of the most vigorous speeches
was made by Hamilton Fish of New
York, who told of his efforts to get a
hearing on his bill for the creation of
a parcels post.
Your resolution gave the committee
only thirty days to conclude it's work, y
suggested Mr.. Smith of Iowa.
"Oh." exclaimed the New York
member derisively, you could have
changed that to five yourselves, or
ninety days"
? Many Hurl Their Charges
Then followed charges and counter
charges concerning the methods OF
delay alleged to be responsible for the
inability Of members to get hearings
on bills.
Mr.. Fassett Of New York appealed
TO his colleagues to resist any effort
to divide the party
IF we give you our power" Mr.
Fassett shouted, shaking his forefinger
toward the Democrats, 1--WE could not
strip ourselves of one iota of our re-
sponsiblitles."
He reminded the Democrats that IN
curtailing the power of the majority
they were establishing dangerous
precedent for themselves. He said the
Democrats already were referring 10
! the insurgents as near Democrats or
"Mercerized Republicans"
"rhis is not a question OF chanSe
of rules" he continued. 1T is ques-
tlon of a change of party control IL
is a question whether by an unnatural
and foreign alliance with our natural
political enemies, these rules are to be
changed.
FINALLY the action here means sue
cess or failure of the Taft adminlstra-
ton"
I'VE have been in session three and
half months and what have we
done to make effective any of the pres
idents recommendations? interJected
Mr.. Haugen of Iowa.
1--WE are on the way" replied Mr.
Fassett.
Bouquets for Uncle Joe
Mr.. Fassett read a letter written by
Mr.. Roosevelt to Mr.. Watson of In
diana in 1906, in which Mr.. Roosevelt
referred to the great accomplishments
Of the house under the administration