The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-14
DEMOCRATS ENDORSE CANNON.
THEY TAKE THE BACK TRACK
ON TEST VOTE.
Desert The Insurgents and Join Hands
With Cannon Regular Republicans
I'm The House--Al That Was Gain
ell by Overthrow OF Cannon Last
Summer Lost.

Washington. Jan. s.--Speaker Can
on had his hour OF triumph In the
house today. Badly battered In the
three days storm which swept the
house last March and which tore
from him much power which had been
his. the speaker "came back" today in
"a way that brought grim smile of
satisfaction TO his rugged countenance
and left his ancient enemies. the I'm
surgents." decidedly discounted.
Today the speaker was sustained
by an overwhelming majority on
ruling which was Identical with the
one he made last March when the
house angrily ovurruled his decision
through a combination OF insurgent
Republicans and Democrats. Today.
on the eve OF their return to power.
the Democrats voted almost solidly
to sustain the ruling OF the chair.
The insurgents-27 OF them-stood
by their guns and fought the speak
er bravely. But robbed OF Demo-
cratic support their battle was a los
ing one from the start.
IL was the first big political move
ment OF the session OF congress and
the regular Republicans were elated
over the results. $They taunted the
Democrats increasingly for their
change OF front.
Taunted for his inconsistency. Rep
resentative Fitzgerald of New York.
one OF the Democratic leaders In the
rules fight. retorted that for the sake
OF consistency he did not propose to
bc foolish.
When Champ Clark OF Missouri
scheduled 10 succeed Speaker Cannon,
voted to sustain the speaker today
on the same point OF order which fur
nished the basis for the successful
insurgent campaign OF last March. the
Republicans broke into storms Of ap-
.plause.
Representative Underwood Of Ala
bama joined Mr.. Fitzgerald in frankly
admitting that he thought the speak
er was right In his ruling last March
and that he ruled In line with the
precedents Of the house.
But" said Mr.. Underwood. "we
yf'ted 10 overrule the speaker because
81 bought the time had come for a
re 1iur a and for the majority OF
re house 20 express It's will AT
.Aat s,lae Al "ss believed the rules
comniftse was attempting to obstruct
legislation No such condition exists
today aid consequently there will be
no revolution"
Then whom YOU voted to overrule
the speaker you admit you en-
gagged In an unlawful enterprise p"
snapped Representative Mann OF I'LL
nois.
IL was not unlawful; IL was aeces-
sary." interjected Mr.. Fitzgerald.
The insurgents refused to be down
cast by their defeat. Twenty-six DEM
ocrats voted with them against the
goeaker, and they claim that these 'in-
surgent Democrats" will be their al
Hes in all future fights
FOPpycock.' said Champ Clark,
when told Of this. Every man voted
as he pleased. That was my advice
90 them. The vote had no significance
whatever ~ party proposition"
Reprosentstiye Sims OF Tennessee,
Democrat. contributed some real ex-
citment tO the debate by declaring
that no was amazed gt the statements
Of some OF thu leader IN his own
side. that they KIN, ,he speaker vas
right last March. but had voted
against him.
II am one OF the ignoraat who 20
iievsd that the speaker WA wrong
then and that he is wrong nov. And
would rather be ignorantly honest
than knowingly dishonest" ne de-
ciared.
Representative Hardy of Texas
took Mr.. Sims to task for employing
such harsh language. He said the
whole truth was that Mr.. Sims did
not believe In false pretenses and
neither did he.
IL was on the point as to whether
or not proposed amendment to the
rules. offered from the floor. consti-
tuted a question OF high constitutions
al privilege. that the storm broke. 1t
was precisely this question that call
ed out the revolution OF last March
when Representative Norris OF Ne
braska offered an amendment to the
rules providing for a rules committee