The Washington herald., 1913-09-25
PAYNE GOADS SPEAKER
TO DEFEND DEMOCRATS
Republican Minority Leader Tells
House that "Caucusism" Is Worse
Than "Cannonism."
Mr.. CLARK TAKES THE FLOOR

Led by Serene E. Payne, OF New
York. the House Republicans yesterday
made an onslaught on the caucus rule
of the Democrats, charging that the
methods of the present majority are just
as odious as the Cannon rules were rep
resented to be in the bitter fight that
resulted in the overthrow of Speaker
Cannon some three years ago.
| Mr.. Payne and his aids hammered the
Democrats SO vigorously that Speaker
Clark was prompted to take the floor
and make a speech in defense of the
rule of the House by a party organiza-
tioR. The Speakers utterances evoked
enthusiastic Democratic applause, and
served 10 prolong a debate that started
with a hve-minute speech, delivered by
Mr.. Payne. who was acting as minority
leader in the absence of Representative
Mann OF Illinois.
The Republicans intend to make eau
Gus rule an issue in next years cam
paignJ a fact that the Democrats only
recently have realized. They think II
will make a great issue, and are hope
full Of portraying rule by caucus in as
vivid colors as were used a few years
ago to depict Uncle Joe Cannon as a
I
publicans are now denouncing rule by
the gag. the whip. and the spur just as
bitterly as the Democrats did when they
were in the minority. The House is be-
ing ruled in the same old way. with de-
vices that looked perfectly harmless at
the beginning, but which are just as ef-
fective in rendering the minority in
nocuOus.
Mr.. Payne started the ball rolling He
characterized the Democrats as pretend
ers and hypocrites for changing the So
called Cannon rules and substituting rule
by the caucus. He charged that through
the medium of the caucus every question
was settled before il reached the House
Replying to Mr.. Payne, Speaker Clark
insisted that this was a government by
parties, and he explained that he spoke
merely by way of instruction to new
members, who might be persuaded by
Mr.. Payne that the Democratic plan of
running the House was without prece-
dent in the history of the world.
The Speaker explained that the Demo-
Gratis were responsible for legislation, and
that they were justified in resorting to
the methods that had been adopted to
attain results. Every government bot
toned on suffrage will be governed by
nothing whether we want it that way
or not That is the way 1t is. Let me
refer to this continual howl about legis-
lation by caucus. 1t is the most idiotic
that has ascended to Heaven in a gen.
GRAFTON. We must have organization in
order to enact the will of the peopIe. We
have. got it, and We have had II for the
last three Years. Until three years ago
fights in this House were like battles
betwixt the militia and the regulars.
THE Democrats We're the militia fight
ing the regulars; but now the battle
turns We are the regulars; we are the
drill men; We are organized: and the Re-
publicans and Progressives are the dis
rupted militia
Mr.. Clarkinsisted that privacy In mol
itics was oftentimes necessary. as IL
was in other spheres. IF it was an
nounced that the preachers and the
priests, the doctors and the LAWYERS.
and the husbands and the wives would
tomorrow tell what they know tbey
would be the greatest hegira of Ameri-
cans ever seen on the face of the earth -
said Mr.. Clark. amid laughter. "The peo-
pie want 10 know what Congress does.
They do not cafe three whoops how they
do it."