The Washington herald., 1911-01-10
DEMOCRATS FLOP
In ROW ON RULES
Continued from PAGE One.

and attempt to convince their colleagues
that they were still looking in the same
direction.
At the conclusion of hostilities, the
Republican insurgents unofhcially de-
cided that they had been outraged and
betrayed by their late Democratic al
lies. And. very much to the worriment
OF the minority leaders, twenty-three in
surgent Democrats joined with the in
surgent Republicans. making wonder
full mixup of regulars on both sides op-
posed by progressives of both sides.
with hard feelings and bitterness quite
manifest.
This is the proper time to say that
when the ruction was over Speaker Can
mons rulinS-absolutely similar in every
respect to his ruling on the Norris RESP
tanned by a vote of DO to So. Mr.. Cannon
gave a dinner to some of his cronies
in the House last night. 1t was very
much in the nature OF a jollification
meeting.
Ruction Not Expected.
Yesterdays row flashed like light
ming out of a clear sky. Speaker Can
non hadn't an idea there was any
thing unusual in the wind. OF course
he knew that Representative Fuller. of
Illinois. was in an awful stew because
a bill in which he was interested, and
which he had hoped to pass under sus-
pension of the rules, had been hope
lessly tied up as a result Of Repre-
sentative Mann's obstruction methods
with reference to the now discredited
committee-discharge amendment. But
neither the Speaker nor any one else
knew that Immediately after the House
met yesterday. Mr.. Fuller was going to
bounce out of his chair and offer res
oiution amending the rules so that mo-
tions to suspend should have prece-
dence over motions to discharge a COM
mittee
Mr. Mann Immediately made a point
OF order against this resolution, anu
the fight was on.
Every one realized that the situation
was absolutely on all fours with that
which arose out of the presentation of
the Norris resolution last March. Con-
sequently. there was some surprise
when the Democratic leaders. one after
another. invited the charge OF flagrant
Inconsistency by bitterly opposing
consideration of the Fuller resolution
and backing up Mr.. Mann's point of or
der against it. There was still more
surprise when two such high lights of
Democracy as Underwood OF Alabama
and Fitzgerald of New York announced
with seeming pride that they had
known all along Speaker Cannon was
right in refusing consideration to the
Norris resolution which the House
later took out of his hands. But the
climax was reached when Messrs. In
derwood and Fitzgerald gave their rea-
sons for helping to turn down Uncle
Joe" when they knew he was abso-
lutely correct.
Mr.. Underwood endeavored to justify
his somersault from March. 1910. to jan
uary. 1911. by saying that the introduc-
tion of the Norris resolution marked the
inception of a parliamentary revolution.
And as he considered all things fair in
love and war, he had voted to overrule
the Speaker. although he realized that
the Speaker was right.
Fitzgerald "Explains" Stand.
Then Mr.. Fitzgerald did a little ex-
planning. He, too. had known the Speak
ers ruling was correct He indicated
that everybody OF intelligence knew 1t.
And he didn't vote to turn down the
Speaker on account of any revolution.
He did 1t. he explained, for fear some
one would say. if he had sided with
Uncle joe that Mr.. Fitzgerald was
trying to save his job on the Committee
on Rules.
These more or less illuminating
glimpses into the inner motives that
actuate members in voting for matters
OF high principle and imperative reform
were received with cackles Of joyous
laughter on the Republican side and pro-
found gloom on the Democratic. Indeed,
several simple minded Southerners from
rural communities looked considerably
shocked when Messrs Underwood and
Fitzgerald made their statements.
Representative Thetus Wilrette Sims.
of Linden. Tenn, which. it has been his
proud boast on the floor. is forty miles
from a railroad and raises mules, was
one of the shocked.
Mr.. Sims. who is fat and eIderly,
jumped out of his seat as soon as Mr..
Fitzgerald had completed, and hastened
t. a commanding position in the main
aisle. He intimated that he considered
those Democrats who had voted to over
rule Speaker Cannon on the Norris res
olution when they knew he was right
a. having been guilty of dishonesty.
IF the rules reform of last March
was dishonesty accomplished, ne IN
quired of Mr.. Fitzgerald, why should
not the creature OF that dishonesty. the
new Rules Committee. be abolished?'
Debate Grows Warmer.
1t was plain that Mr.. Fitzgerald was
irritated.
Il thank God" he rejoined with some
heat, that I am not SO constituted that
in an effort to become logical l am
merely foolish
The somewhat strained situation was
eased bit at this point by Representa-
tive Walter l. Smith, Of Iowa, a men,
ber of the Rules Committee.
There has been some question as to
the authorship of this committee-dis
charge amendment to the rules" he said.
as the House grinned expectantly. "and
want to say that after seeing it work |
l am happy to give full credit for its
to my colleague, Mr.. Champ
Clark"
The Republican regulars certainly did
enjoy this. They laughed and slapped
each other on the back, banged their |
desks, and had a grand time generally. |
Mr.. Sims had not calmed down at all
his colloquy with Mr.. Fitz-
gerald. He secured the floor again and !
had some more to say about the motive 4
actuating his colleagues who had voted !
to overrule Speaker Cannon when they3
knew the Speaker was right.
Il would rather be ignorantly honest" |
he declared, waving both arms in the |
air. than knowingly dishonest"
The Republican side simply rocked with |
Joy at this.
Continuing, Mr.. Sims declared that he |
and Judge Rucker. of Missouri, were the |