The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-12-06
DAVID 3. HENDERSON.

this year, ic- the many farreaching
questions awaiting consideration gave
unusual importance to the return OF
congress. Aside from this, the Roberts
case added a phase which promised
something outside of the ordinary de-
velopments OF an opening day.
Early in the day througs began con-
verging ae the capitol. The Gay was
bright and propitious and the thorough
fares leading 70 tine building presented
gay and animated appearance. Within
the building ali was bustle and excite.
ment long before the hour for calling
the house to order. The outer doors
were open 10 all and through these
flowed continuous streams of humanity,
until the great corridors, galleries and
rotuudas were fairly packed.
AS early as 1880 o'clock the con-
spicuous figures of congress began to
arrive and this served to give the wait.
ing throngs temporary diversion.
| General Henderson went direct to the
speakers private Office, where he shared
ais time with the house leaders and
with those pleading for admission cards.
Representative Richardson Of Tennes.
see, the Democratic house leader, was
also early on the scene comforting with
his lieutenants.
Shortly before II o'clock Mr. Roberts
of Utah, il silk hat and black frock
suit, made his way through the crowd
to the members private lobby. Here
be CHANGED 10 meet Mr.. Richardson and
/ the two held short inference as to
whether Mr. Roberts would seek to ad-
dress the house. A buzz OF comment
followed the gentleman from Utah
wherever be went, but there was no
disrespectful demonstration.
Crowds About the House.
Seldom, if ever, have such enormous
crowds swarmed about the house to
witness the opening scenes Of the ses.
sion as besieged the doors toCay. The
assem- bling Of q new congress al
ways attracts big attendance. Today
the proceedings in the case OF Represea.
tative Roberts. which promised to be
exciting and possibly sensational, furn.
ished an additional attraction.
For hours before noon, the hour Tor
the house to meet, people streamed
! through the corridors to the galleries
which looked down upon the arena
where the statesmen were congregating.
BY II O'Clock a brilliant gathering had
assembled. The galleries were black
with people and through the swinging
doors could be seen pushing hundreds
who were una bic 10 gain admittance.
Entrance was only obtained by card,
/ for which there was an enormous de-
mard The ladies and mem bers' gale.
ries were filed with brilliantly cowned
women, the wives Of members and their
friec6s The executive gallery was
filed with high dignitaries of the gov
ernment and the diplomatic gallery was
resplendenT with the representatives Of
foreign governments.
Scattered through the galleries Were
people prominent in the political. social
| and financial world.
Very early in the day monster petit
ton, said to consist of 1000, 900 names
protesting against the seating Of Mr..
Roberts, was brought into the house.
| 1t had been collected by a New York
newspaper. 1t consisted of Is rolls Of
names, each about feet in diareter,
incased in the American flag. These
rolls were stacked up in the area in
front OF the clerks desk and viewed
with great curiosity. Later Major Nc.
! Dowell, clerk of the house, ordered all
except two Of the rolls taken out into
the lobby.
Leader Of the Minority.
Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee, who
was selected as the leader of the mi.
nority on Saturday, came upon the floor
early and was soon surrounded by a
group of Democrats. Mr.. Roberts came
into the hall shortly after II o'clock,
but he was not generally recognized
and he retired to the cloakroom at meal
time.
At 1880 shrill voiced clerk directed
those not entitled the floor TO retire
and officers and pages rapidly cleared
out those already in.
Senator Rawlins of Utah came over
from the senate wing and held an earn
est conference with Mr. Roberts. NJ.
Lentz Of Ohio took part in the confer
ence. After it was over the report was
circulated that Mr. Roberts would not
present himself to be sworn in. But
this was Immediately denied. Mr. Rob
erts himself said he had not decided
what he would do, but that he himself
desired 10 be heard when his case came
up. He took seat to the right of the