New-York tribune., 1911-01-10
Republican Organization Amused.

To-day such leading Democrats as Fitz-
! gerald, of New York. who will be chairman
| Of the Appropriations Committee IN the
| next Congress- and Underwood. Of Ala
| bama, who will be at the head OF Ways
and Means, explained, much TO The amuse-
ment Of the Republican organization, how
/ they had known Mr.. Cannon was right in
/ his ruling all the time. Mr.. Underwood
! was particularly emphatic in declaring
! that Uncle Joe's" ruling on the Norris
resoiution-the ruling which Mr. Underwood
! voted to overturn-had been perfectly cor
/ rect. He seemed to appr'g late TO the fun
/ that the precedent Of las March, if backed
I'D might make trouble 90" his party when
. IN control
/ But" said Mr. Underwood. amid laugh
ter. that was revolution chen, and this
isn't"
NIr. FITZGERALD was also frank. but he
, explained his inconsistency in different
way. He also knew the Speaker was right
last March.
''I only voted TO take up the Norris reso-
luton" said Mr. Fitzgerald, because l
WAS a member OF the Rules Committee,
and didn't want anybody 10 be able to say
! that l sided with the Speaker 10 protect
my Job on the committee"
! And the Republican regulars laughed
/ some more at this.
There was one member OF the minority
: who didn't consider the admissions made
. by Underwood and Fitzgerald as at ali
amusing Tina. was Representative Sims,
Of Tennessee. lie suggested that those
| Democrats who had voted TO oyerrule
Sneaker Cannon. although they knew that
the Speaker was right. had been guilty OF
dishonesty.
III the reform OF the rules at that time
was dishonesty accomplished" he said,
why not abolish the creature Of that dis
honesty-the reformed Rules Committee
Il thank God 80" rejolncd Mr. Fitzgerald,
that | am not so constituted that in an
effort TO be logical / become merely fool
! ish."
| Mr. Sims's face grew red
Il would rather be ignorantly honest"
he said, than knowingly dishonest"
Cannon Ready TO Rule.
There was no further exchange OF per
! gonaIities, but the discussion continued
warm until Speaker Cannon announced
that he was ready to rule. And he did,
losing no opportunity of referring indirect
~ 10 the inconsistency Of members who
I had reversed themselves on the Norris and
I Fuller resolutions, somersaulting. as 1t
were. from March. 1910. to January, 1911.
Sneaker Cannon's ruling ives delivered In
his most impressive manner. lie gesticu-
lated az times with the gael vigorously
clutched IN his left hand. Again he would
pause, put down the gavel and speak al
most in d whisper. The attention was
such. however. that his every word could
be heard in the far corners Of the gallery.
The Speaker declared that under the
great parliamentary reform" of last
March there is still no way under the rules
10 amend the rules except by revolution
III we are 10 take the word and vote OF
the gentlemen in the House last session
constituting for the time being majority
OF the House He continued:
Now. the chair desires 10 say In this con-
! nection that II is within the power OF the
House. acting by majority, 90 DO any :
! thing that majority votes for, having
| complete power IN the premises, whether
/ justified by the fixed law OF the land, the
! Constitution or otherwise. There was q
/ waV however without violating either the
letter or the spirit of the Constitution. with
! out violating any rule of the House DN
| which a ma iority OF this house when thlS
precedent was made might have worked its
| will.
] But the minority OF the House, substan-
! tiallv acting together and reinforced by "A
! minority Of the majority, made a new ma
! iority and that new majority under the
! leadership OF the gentleman from Missourl
J (Mr. Clark worked what Is declared 10 be
/ a revolution Now, that could have been
] accomplished by majority removing the
! sneaker from the Committee on Rules de-
/ claring the place vacant and eleclins some
/ majority, but that course was not pursued