Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-12-06
OPENING OF CONGRESS-
Animated Scenes in the Capitol
Building.
sIGHTSEERS FILL THE GALLERIES.

GIGHTSEERS FILL THE GALLERIES.
Great Interest Man Tested In the Proceed
ings in the Case of Eject
1hat Is Said to Contain 100000 Names
-rhe Vice Presidents Death Casts .
Pail Over the Senate Proceedings.
Washington, Dec. 4.-Seldom, If ever,
has such crowds swarmed about the
house to witness the opening scenes Of
The session. The proceedings in the
ease of Representative-Elect Roberts,
which promised to be exciting and pos
sibly sensational, furnished an addi-
tional attraction. For hours before
noon, the hour for the house to meet,
people streamed through the corridors
10 the galleries which looked down
upon the arena where the statesmen
were congregating. By IL 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
BE to gain admission.
Monster Petition Against Roberts.
Very early in the day a monster pc
tition, said to consist of 100000
names, protesting against the seating
Of Roberts was brought into the hall.
1t had been collected by New York
newspaper. 1t consisted of twenty
eight rolls of names, each aout two
feet in diameter, encased in the Amer
Thnca or oil cd nm
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 into the lobby. Rich
ardson of Tennessee, who was selected
rs the leader of the minority on Sat
day came upon the floor early and
was soon surrounded by a group Of
Democrats.
Entrance of Roberts.
Roberts came into the hall shortly
after IL o'clock. but he was not gen.
orally recognized, ard he retired to the
sloakroom almost Immediately. At
II 80 a shrill-voiced clerk directed
those not entitled to the floor to retire,
and officers and pages rapidly cleared
cut those already in. Conspicuous on
the floor were the old veterans. Payne
Of New York, the leader of the major
NY; General Grosvenor of Ohio, Hep.
burn of Iowa. Dalzell of Pennsylvania,
Bailey Of Texas, Mcclellan and SulZer
Of New York. Senator Rawlins of
Utah came over from the senate wing
and held an earnest conference with
Roberts.
Roberts Undecided.
Lentz of Ohio took part in the con-
ference. After ii was over the report
was circulated that Roberts would not
present himself to be sworn in. But
this was Immediately denied. Roberts
himself said he had not decided what
he would do, but that he might desire
to be heard when the case came up.
He took a seat to the right of the main
aisle and soon became the cynosure Of
all eyes. His daughter sat in the
members gallery. Tayler Of Ohio, who
represents President McKinley's dis
trict, who was to conduct the case
against Roberts, was comforting with
his colleagues on the Republican side.
AS the minute hand of the clock op-
Dosite the speakers rostrum overlook
che hour hand c noon, the gavel Of the
clerk Of the last house, Major Mellow
ell, descended with bang.
Calling Of the Kill.
/, The Undesirable buzz ceased. The
members arose and the spectators in
the galleries bowed their heads. In
this stiffness the voice of the blind
chaplain, Rev. Henry Couden of Mich
tgan, was elevated and his prayer
made the occasion reverent. After the
invocation the reading clerk began
calling the roll and minute later the
buzz had recommended, making a
noisy background for the staccato
notes of the clerk as he called out the
names. Roberts sat listening intently
for his name, and when it was called
he responded there" in a loud voice.
But he looked nervous and i'll at ease.
There were no demonstrations during
the roll-call. When ii was concluded
Clerk Mcdowell announced that $50
members had answered to their names.
a quorum. The next thing in order"
announced the clerk, lis the election
Of speaker"
Applause for Henderson.
Hepburn Of Iowa offered resolution
which was adopted viva voce provid-
Ing that the house proceed to the cleo
tion of speaker for the Fifty-sixth
congress. Thereupon Grosvenor of
Ohio, as chairman Of the Republican
caucus, presented the Lame of David
b. Henderson of Iowa. The mention
Of the name of General Henderson was
greeted with a round of applause from
the Republican side. Hay of Virginia.
chairman of the Democratic caucus.
nominated James ID. Richardson of
Tennessee, and his name drew the
plaudits of the Democratic side.
Ridgely of Kansas nominated John c.
Bell Of Colorado as the Populist can
didate, and Wilson of Idaho placed
Francis G.. Newlands of Nevada In
nomination as the candidate of the Sill
Yer party. Each party having put for
ward its candidate by the direction of
the clerk the roll was called and each
member voted for the candidate of his
political utilization.
HENDERSON Elected.
Morris of Minnesota, Overstreet of
Indiana and Carmack of Tennessee
were appointed tellers. Newlands,
himself a candidate, voted for Richard
son. The roll-call resulted: Hender-
son, III; Richardson, 1913; Bell. 4;
Eewlands. 2. The clerk thereupon au.
nounced the election Of Henderson
amid great Repul lean applause. He
designated Richardson. Bell and New.
lands as a committee to escort the
speaker to the chair.
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