West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-11-19
rnEsPECIAL SESSION.


The special session of the s8th
Congress, called by the President
for the purpose of working through
the Cuban reciprocity proposition
Is now in session.
The opening of Congress was
very much like the opening of any
Congress that has preceded 1t. The
Republican programme went
through as stated. "Uncle Joe"
Cannon was elected Speaker accord
ing to schedule, and the Hon. John
Sharp Williams, Of Mississippi, was
the nominee Of the Democratic par
ty for Speaker as predicted last
spring. AS the defeated candidate
for Speaker. Mr.. Williams was
placed on the committee to escort
in the new Speaker and his speech
introducing the new Speaker to the
House OF Representatives vas, The
most graceful thing that has been
heard on the floor of the House for
many years. The daily papers all
over the country have commented
on 1t as such. Mr.. Williams has
already made good the predictions
OF his friends that he is the man for
the position Of floor leader of the
House on the Democratic side. He
has had the good sense, as his
friends knew he would have, to give
his chief opponent, the Hon. Camp
Clark, of Missouri, the appointment
on the Ways and Means Committee,
one Of the highest honors that can
come to Democrat. Mr.. Williams
not ouly showed his generosity by
this action, but his good sense as
well, for Mr.. Clark is one of the
ablest Democrats in the Congress,
and can do effective work against
the Republican party in that posi-
ton. Mr.. Williams not only has
done this; he also has placed Hon.
David A. De Almond, of Missouri,
one of the ablest men in public life
to-day, on the committee on rules
with himself. That is the most i'm
portant committee in the House,
and controls all legislation emana
ting from the House, and controls
all debates. He will be absolutely
invaluable to the party and to Mr..
Williams in the debates that will
come off this winter. Mr.. Williams
has also placed the Hon. James +.
Lloyd, of Missouri, back in his old
place as the Democratic .whip" %
the House.
That is an honorable and respon
sible position, for the "whip" of the
House has to see to itthat major
ty of the members in the city are IN
their seats and voting on any pro-
position in which is involved the
party policy. Mr.. Lloyd was for
Mr.. Clark against Mr.. Williams,
and this action of Mr.. Williams not
only was just and good sense, but it
was generous as we'll. He has thus
justified the prediction of his friends
that he was big enough to lead the
minority to things they can boast Of
in the next campaign.
There is one little piece of red
tape that each new House goes
through with that gives the specta-
tors in the gallery and the members
on the floor an opportunity to give
vent to their enthusiasm foI any par
ticular man they believe in or whom
they think is popular hero. That
is the time honored function of
drawing seats for the session. A
page is blindfolded and he pulls out
of box marble with number on
1t, and there is a members name op
posite this number. Both are called
out and the member then goes down
and selects his seat. There was
much applause when certain men
are called out. For instances.
there was a resolution adopted that
gave the floor leader of the Republi.
can side, the Hon. Serene PAYNE.
OF New York. and the oldest mem
Der of that side. of the House, the
Hon. Harry Bingham, of Pepnsyl-
vanis, the floor leader of the Demo
cratic side, the John Sharp viii
liams, Of Tennessee, the right to
choose their seats without drawing
for them. There was much an
plause when they went forward and
chose their seats. Then the names
of prominent men on both sides OF
the House were called out, and as
they went down the aisIes TO get
their seats there went up the pIaud-
its OF their friends. Among the
number on the Democratic side who
were recognized in this manner were
Hon. George b. Mcclellan, lately
elected the Democratic Mayor Of
Greater New York, and the Hon.
William Randolph Hearst, Of New
York, VINO has done so much for
the cause of Democracy and the
common people Of the country.