New-York tribune., 1910-01-12
From Tho Tribune Bureau.

from The Tribune Bureau.l
washington, Jan. 1L--Political Washing
ton is tense in anticipation Of the struggle
between the Republican organization in the
House and the insurgents, in which there
sre expected important developments to-
morrow evening. It is futile to deny the
taet that the situation is one fraught with
danger to the party. nor is il the part of
wisdom to turn ones back on it as an un-
pleasant sight. Unfortunately for the
party, the ranks of the insurgents contain
few men OF more than ordinary ability or
OF long political experience For these
reasons they are in danger of creating
far greater political havoc than they in
tend, and of precipitating a movement
with which they will be utterly unable to
cope. once they realize the danger. To un-
derstsnd the movement it must be known
that there are several groups of malcon-
tents who have temporarily united for
greater strength. There are honest and
capable men who are insurgents because
they are convinced that the leadership of
Joseph G, Cannon is detrimental to the
party and injurious to the country. There
are insurgents who have become so as the
result of personal grievances, sometimes
serious, but still personal Another group
are insurgents for insurgeney's sake, men
Democracy. And finally, there are insur-
gents who realize that their opportunities
in the ranks of the Republican party are
limited by their capacities and who believe
they can achieve prominence by denla-
goguery. To write OF such heterogeneous
company with fairness is almost as difficult
as to deal with it with justice. Refer to
them as demagogues, and Immediately
there will be cited men who in no way de-
serve the appellation. Describe them as
patriots and the spectres of the arch
demagogues in their ranks will rise up 10
plague you. OF course, this situation
makes II extremely difficult for the Presi-
dent to deal with the insurgents. and it is
not easy to find ANY guiding principle other
than the old one, so long accepted in this
country. of majority rule and its coroIlary,
that the man who will not be guided by
the rule of the majority must be regarded
outside the breastworks.
A definite declaration by Mr.. Cannon that
he would not again be a candidate for
Speaker would smooth out many difficult
ties, would pave the way for the sincere
and able insurgents TO return to the fold
and would leave the others in a position
where they must either lay down their
arms else must come out in their true
colors like the Irishman who explained
that he was a Democrat because he was
''agin' the government" Mr.. Cannon, who
has seriously considered the advisability of
retiring from the field. now maintains that
he cannot retire under fire." but many
Congressman say the Speaker was never
confronted by great opportunity to
demonstrate the breadth of his character
and his craftsmanship as is afforded.
They further maintain that, aside from q
few more or less inconseQuenttal insur-
gents, the American public would gener-
ously commend such a step on the Speak
er's part, as it obviously would be taken
for the purely unselfish purpose Of hene-
fitting his party and contributing to the
success of the Taft administration.
The insurgent movement IN so far as 1t
affects the Senate is not as serious as in
the House. With all the criticism which
has been directed against Senator AIdrich,
It is still generally realized that Senators
enjoy entire freedom to express their views;
that the Senate is purely and consistently
a deliberative body, and that zone man
rule does not prevail to anything like the
extent that it exists in the House. The
Senate is a unit in its purpose to enact
the railroad legislation urged by the Presi-
dent, and the insurgents can hardly af-
ers this ground. It is the purpose of
the regular Republicans to shut OUT the
insurgents In the enactment of this legis-
iation. That win be accomplished by per-
fecting the bill in committee. and then re-
ssting every effort on the part of the in
surgents 10 amend it. If, as is promised,
the regular Republicans perfect q bill
which meets with the approval of the Pres
ident, however. there will be little ground
the more radical propositions of the insur-
gents are rejected. Moreover, it is by no
means certain that the propositions of all
the insurgents will be more radical. In
some instances they will probably be more
conservative.
Senator Root introduced bill to-day
authorizing the payment of pension OF
$4,000 a year to Mrs. Frances F. Cleveland