The record-union., 1899-12-05
The NATIONAL
LEGISLATURE,
CONTINUED from First Page)

Very early in the day monster Pc
tition, said to consist of seven million
names, protesting against the seating
of Mr.. Roberts, was brought into the
hail. 1t had been collected by a New
York newspaper 1t consisted of TWEEN
ty-eight rolls of names, each about two
feet in diameter, encased in the Ameri-
can flag. These rolls were stacked up
in the area in front of the Clerks desk,
and were viewed with great curiosity.
Later Major Mcdowell Clerk of the
House, ordered all except two of the
rolls taken out in the lobby.
Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee, who
was selected as the leader of the minor
ity on Saturday, came upon the floor
early, and was soon surrounded by a
group of Democrats.
Mr.. Roberts came into the hall short
1y after IL o'clock, but he was not gen
orally recognized and he retired to the
cloakroom almost Immediately.
At 80 a. m. a shrill voiced clerk
directed those not entitled to the floor
to retire, and officers and pages rapid
ly cleared out those already in.
Conspicuous on the floor were the old
veterans Payne of New York, the leader
of the majority; General Grosvenor of
Ohio, Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa, Mr.. Dali
zell of Pennsylvania, Mr. Bailey of
Texas, Mr.. Mcclellan and Mr.. Sulzer
of New York.
Senator Rawlins of Utah came over
from the Senate wing, and held an
earnest conference with Mr.. Roberts.
Mr. Lentz of Ohio took part in the con-
ference.
After it was over the report was cir
culated that Mr.. Roberts would not
present himself to be sworn in. But
Roberts himself said he had not decid-
ed what he would do, but that he might
desire to be heard when his case came
up. He took a seat to the right of the
main aisle, and soon became the cyno-
sure of all eyes. His daughter sat in
the members gallery.
Mr.. Taylor of Ohio, who represents
President McKinley's district, who was
, to conduct the case against Mr.. Rob-
erts. was comforting with his colleagues
on the Republican side.
AS the minute hand of the clock op-
posite the Speakers rostrum overlook
the hour hand at noon the gavel of the
! Clerk of the last House, Major Nc
Dowell, descended with a. bang. The
lndescribable buzz ceased. The mem
pers at once arose, and the spectators
IN the galleries bowed their heads Tn
TINS stiffness the voice of the blind
Chaplain. Rev. Henry Couden of Mich
, 1gan, was elevated and his PRAYER made
the occasion reverent.
| After the invocation the Reading
clerk began calling the roll. and a min
ute later the buzz had recommended
making a noisy background for the
staccato notes of the Clerk as he called
out the names
Mr.. Roberts sat listening intentlv for
MS name, and when it was called be
| responded
Here" in loud voice, but he looked
nervous and ill at ease.
Ihere We're no demonstrations d,,ring
the roll call. When it was concl,d-
ed Clerk Mcdowell announced thar 35o
members had answered to their names
quorum.
The next thing in order" announced
the Clerk, is the election of Sneaker ,,
iiepourh OF Iowa offered resolution,
wnich was adopted viva voce, providing
that the House proceed to the election
oI speaker for the Fifty-sixth Con
gress.
Ihereupon Grosvenor of Ohio as
Chairman of the Republican caucus.
presented the name of David r Hen.
derson of Iowa
Inc mention of the name of General
! henderson was greeted with a round
/ Oh applause from the Republican side
HAY, Chairman of the Democratic
caucus, nominated James D. Ricba rd :
son OF Tennessee, and his name drew
the plaudits of the Democratic side
Rldgley of Kansas nominated John
Z. Bell of Colorado as the Populist can
oldate, and Wilson of Idaho placed
Francis G. Newlands of Nevada in
nomination as the candidate of the Sill
yer party.
Each party having put forward ire
candidate by the direction of the Clerk
J the roll was called, and each r,ernhar
voted for the candidate of his nol;t;co
affiliations.
Morris of Minnesota, Overstreet Of
Indiana and Carmack of Tennessee
We're appointed tellers.
| Newlands himself a candidate voted
for Richardson. The roll call resu,tad
Henderson III, Richardson 1913. BELL 4
and Newlands 3
| The Clerk thereupon announced the
election of Mr.. Henderson. amid eraa
Republican applause
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