Daily camera., 1899-12-11
SEEN BY BOULDER LADY.
Mrs. North OF Boulder Writes of the Open
ing Hours of Congress.
Washington, D. c., Dec. 4, 1909


For several days previous to the open
ing of congress our national capital
seems to be awakening from her long
summer lethargy and putting on her
best garments 10 welcome her annual
visitors from all parts of our great
commonwealth. Nature has been kind,
winter has been slow in coming, in fact,
there has been no winter in the air nor
are sill found in the gardens, great
masses OF red, yellow and white chrys-
anth emums stand out in bright coloring
on many grassy slopes. 1t has been
laie and sweet delay. for until this morn
ing there has been little of that sharp
ne SIS in the air which tells US of real
winter; but now the longed for month OF
expectancy has come. Today has been
the day OF days and never has interest
b en- more profound than that which has
centered in and abouI the capitol for the
ops nlrg Of the fifty sixth congress. One
OF the Oldest inhabitants said, 81 have
llved through many exciting scenes IN
Washington and witnessed many open.
ing days, but have never seen the inter
est more intense than at the present
lime" Not but that the crowds Assem-.
| oled al the opening ceremonies have
1 been greater many times before but there
Is strong under current OF anHl-ty re
garding the momentous questions TO be
d 1Cldeu and every one seems to be hold.
ing their breath in anticipation of what
will come next, The issues at stake are
Tremendous. the possibilities in so many
directions so far reaching that no one
who thinks at all can be indifferent.
There is struggle with contend ng
forces in this congress, clashlng of
steel between opposing parties and both
acting for the common good of the ma
ton in the larger responsible les which
await them. In the early morning great
crowds were seen filling the sidewalks
and crowding the street cars, all with
one accord fastening to the nations Cap
ito on the hull The great white dome
sParkled in the sunlight the Goddess of
Liberty standing embossed against the
blue sky, her eyes set on the future.
There is hum of voices and the sound
Of conflict in the air, in the halls and
corridors eager eyes note with interest
the coming of senator's and represent
auves. On this occasion the house
seemed to possess the greater attraction.
There were pleasant meetings Of old
comrades who had fought in many a
stirring conflict within these walls, There
was the new member who seemed to ap
proach this untried field of activity with
timid hesitatlng steps or perhaps with an
he must rise or fail, tried by the crucial
test of public opinion. Many times the
expression would be heard, "There goes
my Congressman" Many times our sen.
ators and representatives do not fully
know the appreciation in which they are
held. At 9 a. m. it was difficult to find
ones way comfortably In the great
thiong. There was scramble for places
in the galleries as the entrance was en-
urely by card and only two issued to
would be disappointed IN IN Securing Sec m seats. Is.
The fight against Roberts was the all.
absorbing topic and when at 10 a. m. it
was whispered about that he was in the
room he was given more attention than
anyone else, that's he was gazed a.. The
mountain high. 1t was noted that New
York had the largest petition of ALL
while the size of Colora dos petition com
pared favorably with those of the other
states. AS the noon hour arrived the
floor was cleared of all except the men,
bers. officials and ex officials. The gal
leries were crowded until there was not
even standing room left. was forum
ate in securing seat directly overlook
ing the speakers desk. A profound
hush fel! on the assembly when the gavel
sounded which opened the fifty sixth
congress was now open. the prayer by
the chaplain was impressive. 1t took
but lew minutes to carry out the pro
gram agreed upon at the Republican
caucus on Saturday night, and General
Henderson OF Iowa was speaker of the
fifty sixth congress. Later on | was
fortunate in being introduced to him in
the speaker room, which was a veritable
bower OF roses and chrysanthemums sent
by admiring friends from h own
state and elsewhere. The ptelimin.
airy work was disposed of rapidly.
| Tne states were called phabetically,
the members taking the oath as their
names were called until bieathless
| silence took possession ct all present
and hundreds of eyes were turned
toward the center OF the room as the
clerk called the name of Brigham H.
| Roberts, OF Utah Mr.. Roberts arose,
| advanced as tar as the front row OF
desks, when a voice was heard coming
from the Republican side OF the house
Congressman Taylor, of Ohio. with The
courage OF his convictions and voice
that penetrated all parts of the room
entered protest against Mr.. Roberts
taking the oath and was most ably ar d
| earnestly seconded from the Democratic
| side OF the house by Congressman Nc
| Rae Oi AfkansaS Stsndjnp before tha
great tribunal, accused OF crime which
is 50 repugnant to the b tier feelings of
all right minded people, Mr.. Roberts
simply stood and gazed on his accusers
until the speaker lold him to stand aside,
then asserting that he waived more of
his rights turned and slowly walked back
to his scat. And | wondered if he felt
the force of the strong feeling of con
| deuuatinu which seemed to be mani