AMERICAN POLITICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 116, 24 August 1910, Page 5

AMERICAN POLITICS

PARTY RUCTIONS.

By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright New York, August 22. Mr. Griscom, ex-Ambassador to Japan, on behalf of Mr. Roosevelt, is proceeding to Beverly to confer with Mr. Taft., The visit is described as one of conciliation and enlightenment. Mr. Griscon intends to emphasise the necessity for the national administration remaining neutral between 'New York State factions. The dissensions among Republicans are reacting in fayor of the Democrats in New York and New Jersey. THE PRESIDENT AND MR. ROOSEVELT. Received August 23, 11.35 p.m. New York, August 23. President Taft, in a letter to Mr. Gris- 1 com, referring to the temporary Chair- j mansihip, declared that he does not sup- j pose there is> any doubt that Mr. Roosevelt will prove satisfactory. He urged upon Mr. Sherman the necessity of taking Mr. Roosevelt into his fullest con- < fidence. , After the committee's 'meeting he informed Mr. Sherman that the result was deplorable, as the breach, unless repaired, meant the possible defeat of the Republicans'. Mr. 'Griscom predicts- a reversal of the - committee's action, and adds that Mr. j 'Roosevelt will make a "key-note" speech , -as a temporary chairman.' ! THE SPEAKERSHIP. !

Writing a few weeks ago, the American correspondent of the .Melbourne Argus stated:—"The downfall of Uncle Joe Cannon, Speaker and 'boss' of i the Federal House of Representatives/and for the past six years the most powerful figure in American politics, apart from •the President, is a staggering blow at the party system in this country. Though not removed from the Speakership, Cannon 'has lost control of the House. He is in his last ditch, and it is a foregone conclusion that unless he accepts the inevitable and retires at the end of the present session, he will be ejected. The significance of the defeat of Speaker Cannon lies in the fact it was on a non-party vote. Twenty-five insurgent Republicans voted with the Democrats, and Cannonism is. no more. To understand the situation it must be remembered that in the United States the Speaker of the House of (Representatives is not, as in Australia, a mere presiding officer, whose chief attribute is impartiality and fairness. He is, on the contrary, the active head of the majority pjarty. As such, he is in a measure responsible for carrying into effect the legislative programme of the majority. But Uncle joe has interpreted his powers and responsibilities in a / way that would indicate his belief that he himself' is the party, and the rank and file mere automatons. . . .

By his privilege of appointing the members of the committees that consider all Bills before they are, introduced in the House;, Speaker Cannon has forwarded or stifled legislation according to his own sweet will. Of all the committees, the one most powerful in the manipulation of legislation is the Committee on Rules.» And it was in a fight to a finish over' this committee that Cannon met his Waterloo'. By a vote of 181 to M 4 the House deckled that a committee on rules should be named by the House itself,, and not by the Speaker. Furthermore, it decided that .the Speaker should not ,be » member of the committee. A motion was made bv a memlber of the Democrat Party calling on the Speaker to resign. Most of the insurgents,' however, voted with .the regular Republicans, and the motion was defeated. [Cannon is personally most popular, and there was no wish to press the matter to his degradation. By ousting him from control of 'the Committee on Rules it was felt that the Speaker's wings had been clipped close enough. The practical effect of I the defeat of the Speaker will be ,to make, it more difficult to ; stifle legislation introduced by members honestly desirous of the good of the people. It also means that the control of the Republican Party will probably pass over to its more Radical wing—the men who swear by Roosevelt, and are opposed to 'the corporate interests that so often shape legislation to suit themselves."