Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-18
THE TANTALUS CLUB
A Session Held at the Ar
lington Last Night.
NEXT SPEAKERSHIP
THAT WAS THE TOPIC CHIEFLY
DISCUSSED.
Many Names Presented, but Final
Agreement Upon Mr.. Cam
non Reached.
Extract from the Tantalus Club record)
TANTALUS CLUB,

wednesday,, DeCemUeT Ia AVoSs
The club met at o'clock in the'banquet
hall Of the Arlington Hotel. business OF
|, most important nature being the order OF
the evening. The privilege Of the floor was
thrown open to a score or more guests of
the members Of the club. including the
Speaker, Mr. Joseph G. Cannon Of Illinois,
the British ambassador and others. Inc
guests were given all the privileges Of dele
gates, that Is. they were permitted to vote
and applaud. but could have no voice In
the proceedings. Owing to the extraordi-
nary nature of the session Chief Doorkeeper
Roessle of the hotel had made special ar
rangements for the accommodations OF the
members and the guests. The tables were
placed in the form of hollow square ex-
tending along the full length OF the SIDES
of the immense banquet hall. American
beauty roses, carnations and potted palms
massed In the open space left between tne
tables formed forest OF green ana req anu
white, which reflected the brilliant Hent
that fell fro mthe numerous, clematis crap
ed tncandescent bulbs that dotted the cen
ing. The entire canopy was hung WIN
clematis and the table and sidewalks were
treated to a similar form OF decoratloh.
Huge punches of carnations, tied with rlp-
bon and placed in bed Of ferns, were piac-
ed here and there about the table. WhAe
the light of hundred candles solteneo ny
dainty yellow shades fell upon the WIZ
napery and shimmering silver and cut glass.
giving to the table and surroundings most
hospitable aE. which the members OF inc
club were not slow In augment!ng ny IHen
genial greetings and cordial weicome. na aSa
person on the floor found on his desk Inc
bill which would be taken up Tor consldera-
ton during the session.
The bill was prepared by Engrossing Clerk
C. K. Bergman and was given the u.lho sS
consideration by the club. The princlps1
provisions Of the bill were edible, ana were
promptly adopted by the club. Otner Tea
lures including a series OF cartoons repre-
senting Mr.. Cannon OF Illinois m 'a mh1eb
continued until the president OF the cuo
interfered and threatened to call on the
sergeant-at-arms to preserve ORDER.
Beginning of "Business."
The business Of the session was opened
almost Immediately. the president, Mr.
Powers of Massachusetts,. being IN the
chair After the usual ceremonies quiet
was restored.
The president: Gentlemen Of the Tanta-
LUIS Club and guests. I propose the health
Of the President of the United States. Cine
toast was drunk stanoing)
mr.. Foster: Mr.. President.
The president: The gentleman from ONO.
Mr. Foster: 1--WE have here with US To-
night the representative Of his majesty, the
King of Great Britain. l move you, there
fore, Mr.. President, that we drink tne
health of his majesty, King Edward tae
Seventh" (The toast was drunk standlng2
The President: THE question before the
club is on the report of the committee on
speakership, and would ask the gentleman
from West Virginia, MI Gaines, II ne mas
anything to report?'
Mr.. Gaines Of West Virginia: Mr.. Presi-
dent, have a report to make. The mem
bers of your committee visited all the gen
tlemen whom we believed would make good
speakers for the House of Representatives
and questioned them on their position To-
ward the Ttatalus Club. We obtained tneH
views as to committee chairmanshlps, etc.
and made clear the position of this CLUB,
which controls ffty-four votes in the House
of Representatives. ! regret to state, now
ever Mr. President, that your committee
could not reach an agreement, ana tndl
while present the report Of the committee,
each member thereof will present minor
ity report, in which he will exploit the
claims Of the person with whom he talked
regarding this great ONCE
Il nominate, therefore. Mr. President,
Mr.. Burton of Ohio to be Speaker OF the
House of Representatives.
Then Came a Diversion
The consideration of the bill first laid be-
fore the club was resumed at the place
marked CLEAR Turtle Soup and discus
sion of its qualities followed. When this
section OF the biu had been disposed Of the
proceedings were again interrupted
Mr. Gaines CIV. Ya.): Mr.. President.
The President: The gentleman from West
Virginia
utes to the gentleman from North Dakota,
Mr. Marshall, to make a minority report.
Mr.. Marshall: Mr.. President, l have taken
up this question Of speakership and given 1t
my most earnest consideration. I am sorry
we could not agree on a candidate and make
a report from the full committee, but l
can pledge the support of the North Da-
kota delegation in the House 10 the candl-
7 OH tn / a
caucus with myself and have decided to
place in nomination the name Of Mr.. Dali
zell Of Pennsylvania (Applause)
The discussion Of the original bill was
again resumed and the provisions, fillet OF
beef imperatrice, sweetbreads with fresh
mushrooms and Tantalus punch, were fully
considered and disposed Of before the next
interruption from the chairman of the COM
mittee ON speakership, who yielded five min
utes to Mr.. Gardner of Massachusetts,.
Listened in Pain and Patience.
Mr.. Gardner: Mr.. President, have heard
with the utmost patience the remarks Of
the gentlemen from West Virginia and
North Dakota, and I, too, must express re-
greet that the name OF one candidate could
not be agreed upon by the committee as a
whole. 1t gives me pain to think that the
members Of the committee did not all come
to my way OF thinking and agree to nomi-
nate my candidate The gentlemen whom
am about to propose will receive the sup
port of every republican member from Ar
kansas, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama
South Carolina and all but one Of the repub-
llcan members from Virginia. He will re-
ceive the support of one-fourth Of the dele
cation from the state of Maine, also, Mr.
President, could say many things about
my candidate, Mr. President. I could say
that his name has never been sullied by ap-
pearing on a majority report; that he is the
only man who is qualified to give a solar
plexus to the octopus" or whose voice can
be depended upon at all times to reach the
furthermost recesses of the House. Mr.
President, nominate Mr.. Charles e. Little
field OF the state of Maine. (Great applause)
The question Of the nomination became
one OF such serious moment that its i'm
mediate consideration was at once asked by
Mr.. Gaines CIV. Va.), and the matter was
taken up after that portion Of the original
bill marked coffee had been reached and
disposed of.
Mr.. Gaines CIV. va.): Mr.. President, 1
yield five minutes to the gentleman from
New Mexico. Mr.. Rodey.
The President: The gentleman from New
Mexico.
Exploits the Constitution.
Mr.. Rodey-"Mr. President, am a firm
believer in that much-abused piece Of lit
erature, the Constitution. which permits
man to be selected for Speaker who Is not
obar IF "a