Evening star., 1927-05-19


- night and the following
day the battle went on,
n said Uncle Joe Cannon
telling about Norris resolution tC
abolish the committee on rules and
create a new one. Of which the Speaker
should not he a member. This was
part of the fight against Speaker
Reeds cZarism. 1T was st. Patrick 5
day and the House observed it by
spending its time in throwing bricks.
The insurgents were bent on driving
the snakes out Of America. and had
persuaded themselves that the big
gest snake Of all occupied the Speak
er's chair and had the whole Govern
ment in its coils, crushing out the life
and liberty Of the American people.
"The galleries had filled rapidly
after the news went out that the Nor
Yis resolution was up for debate, and
the corridors were soon choked with
excited people. Senators came over to
see the fun and to give advice or in
cuire as TO the Speakers plan. Let
ters and kilograms came by the hun
dreds and newspapers had sensational
first page stories. If / had not de-
cided on a definite course Of action l
would have been disturbed by the ad-
vice that came from opportunists Of
high and low degree, to resign to save
the party. But / recalled that when
the Israelites loaded their sins on the
head Of a goat it had to be done by
the hand of a fit man, and | won
dered where the fit man was who
would lead the people out of the will
derness now. Would it be the Presi-
dent or would it be some of the Sena-
tors who were trying the old feat Of
walking a slack rope in strong wind?
So / didn't resign,
Cooper Details Grimes"
"About 2 o'clock in the morning
Cooper Of Wisconsin, from whom IN
surgency oozed at every pore, even
when he was in a state of suspended
animation, which was not often, was
recIting In elaborate detail the crimes
/ had committed against the down
trodden insurgents. AS I came into
the House from the Speakers room,
where I had been signing some papers,
G.Noper was eloQuently describing the
wrong l had inflicted on Gardner of
Massachusetts. This dreadful cZar,
all horns and hoofs and tail, had
crushed Gardner and removed him
from the craftsmanship of his commit
tee because. as an insurgents he had
dared oppose the Speaker.
IT interrupted him and asked Gard
ner to tell the House why he hadn't
n
nent of mine, and If he had chosen he
could have dished me by simply being
evasive or failing to remember. But
Gardner was a regular man. He had
the blonde hair and blue eyes Of the
optimist: the rounded face and good
natured mouth of the humorist, but
he also had mouth that could shut
with the snap Of a steel trap, and
eyes that could become hard and cold
In their anger and blaze in their in
Ciignation. A good friend and rich in
his sympathies, but quick to flame
into passion to rebuke dishonorable
or unworthy action.
Replies With Humorous Smile.
"With a humorous smile he said
that having learned he was to be re-
appointed chairman of his old commit
tee, he had asked the Speaker to give
him another assignment, because if
he were honored with craftsmanship
after acting with the insurgents he
would never be able to convince them
that he had not sold out to the creator
of all their woes, the wicked old
Speaker. He would be compelled to
insurge even at times against his own
judgment, as proof to his insurgent
associates that he was loyal to their
sacred cause and had not betrayed
them for a handful of congressional
silver. 1t was all the vindication
needed. When he finished and sat
down a great burst of applause swept
over the House. But it was not for
me. No, no, don't imagine that for q
moment. 1t was the spontaneous
tribute to courage. Gardner had done
a very fine thing, and the House was