The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-23
Cannon Machine Tried to
 Ea,y the Reports
TOTEsT cANNOA's STRENGTH
Democrats In Congress Are Awakening to Fact That They Have But Few Trained Pnrliane ntarians to
 Cope With Republicans
BY wATrERsoN sTEALEY

l. Washington, January 22.-(Special)- Representative Hitchcock, senator-elect from Nebraska, returned to Washington today and announced his intention of | appearing before the rules committee this week and urging the adoption of a spe- cial rule for the consideration of the Bal finger case by the House. In this he has the support of Representative Un- derwood of the rules committee, the en- Tire democratic side, including Represen- idtive James of the special committee which investigated the affairs of the de- partment of the interior and Representa- tive Madison, another member who is leading number of republicans who are insistent that action be taken by the House. The case presents to the country as nothing else could at this time. the worst form of Cannonism and, regard less of the rebuke that system of par liamentary procedure received at the polls last November, the House republican or ganjzation remains unresponsive and ob- stinate. When the minority and major ity reports were presented to the House last month, instead of being placed on
 
 referred to the agriculture committee. This was done for no purpose other than to hold the case there throughout the en- tire session, thus preventing the House from expressing it's will in the matter.
 Try to Force Vote
 No other course being available, those who are supporting the minority report are urging the rules committee to bring in special rule which will allow the. House to take a vote. a It Is compara- lively immateiial how the House votes, the important matter is whether the speaker, in league with Ballinger's friends, is going to be able to stave off any House action whatever. This feature of the sit uation so strongly appeals to many in- dependent republicans in the House that before the matter is settled there is req son to believe that there will be another uprising ir the House, which may force the speaker to allow an expression of opinion. Those who are advocating the adoption of the minority report censuring Ballnger state their confidence in ma jority of the House vote. Such a vote of censure by the House would force the President to demand Ballinger's resig- nation. In the meantime Ballinger's friends. fearing a test vote in the House, will use all their efforts to uphold the Cannon system, pigeon -hoeng the re- ports in the committee on agriculture.
 PsrIiamentariansA Are Scarce
 The democrats in Congress are awaken ing to the fact that they are powerfully short on good parliamentary material and that it Is going to be a difficult matter to select six democrats who can cope with the republicans to places on the rules committee.
 The difficulty is not far to seek. Tho party has been in the minofity for years end has had no experience in guiding legislation.
 It has devoted it's time to opposition and this has been directed almost en- tirely by the leaders. The party has been in the habit of going to one or two men entrusted with leadership, getting their views and acting accordingly. Bailey of Texas and Richardson of Tennessee were good parliamentarians and the democrats followed them. Tn the last six years Rep resentative Underwood of Alabama and Representative Fitzgerald of New York handled the parliamentary situations. MT. Underwood Is eliminated from the floor next winter as he will devote himself to the tariff bills. If MT. Fitzgerald Is made chairman of the appropriations committee he will not have time to de- vote his attention to the rules. The committee of 14' is, therefore. up in the air on the personnal of the rules com mittee. The men heretofore mentioned for the committee are, however, capable members and will doubtless develop Into parliamentary shsrps before the new Con gress is far advanced. at least, it is