The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-11-14
Republican Majority Adopts Rules of Last
Congress Against the Protest of
the Democrats.
Hanna Receives an Ovation in the Senate.
While Colonel Geo. B. Mcclellan is
Lion of the House.

Walter Wcllman writes to the Chi
cago RccordHerald in the following
interesting manner about the opening
of congress-:
All roads led to the capitolinc hill,
as our forcfathcrs called it, this morn
ing. The great white capitol of this
nation, one of the grandest buildings
in the world, was batllcd in warm sun
light. BY noon the corridors and gal
lcrics of the huge structure were filled
from one end to the other, with
throng of wclldresscd, well-mannercd,
happy men ana women. They had as
Sembled to witness the proceedings at
the opening of congress. 10 Spccta
tors there is some strange fascination
in these initial sessions, though as Il
rule they lack all elements of the sen
sational. The senate was prosaic and
brief. One short quarter hour sutiiccd
for all that it had to do. as the senate
is Il continuous body, always organ
izcd. always ready for business.
Not so with the American house of
commons. 1t must call the roll, elect
Il speaker and other officers, adopt
rules. draw seats and 30 through lots
of other motions and forms during the
tremendously big body. The great
hall. expansive enough for good
sized pasture, is crowded full of seats
The galleries hold nearly a thousand
onlookrrs When floor ana galleries
are filed with chattcring. aughng,
rustling people. the din is something
Understandable. 1t was that way when
II O'Clock struck today. One could
scarcely hear the voice of his next
ncighbor. 1t was like being in a huge
factory where all the machinery was
running full tilt.
But there came moment of i'm
prcssive silence. 1t was after the proc.
lamation of the president convcning
congress in extraordinary session had
been read by the clerk, the long roll
of states and lists of members had
been called and responded to by $50
out of 3SG members who were present,
candidates for speaker had been
named ana voted for by roll call, and
the successful candidate was about to
enter the hall, leaning on the arm of
his defeated rival. All eyes were
turned toward the main entrance, Il
hush came over the great assembly,
and in Il moment the frail form, sharp
face. twinkling eyes and grizzled head
of Uncle joe were seen in the open
ing. He wns arm in arm with Will
inms of Mississippi, who was the cnn-
didnte for the democrats for speaker
and who is to be the floor leader of the
minority. The new speaker was at
tired in Il long black frock coat, whose
lapcls he has not as vet had time to
bcstrcw with cigar ashes, ct cetera.
He was erect, prim, well-grOOmed, dig
nified. AS he walked down the cen
trail aisle the assemblage welcomed
him with Il rOuSing cheer. The demo-
Gratis were quite as enthusiastic as tho
republicans, for "Uncle Joe" is Il fu-
vOrite on both sides Of the house as n
manly. fair fighter. The galleries con-
tributcl their quota, and hundreds of
pretty women, whose gowns displayed
Il remarkable tendency to run to
whites and blacks and to eschcw all
brighter c0lOrs, ana who were adorned
with countless chrysanthemums and
American beauty roses, nearly split
their gloves in applauding the new
master of the American house, the
first speaker, by the way, ever elected
from the state of Illinois.
The new speaker and his escort
stepped upon the rOstrum. General
Grosvenor, looking more than ever like
n patriarch of Il hundred flocks, waved
his hand as a signal for the applause
to stop. Minority Leader Williams
spoke very neat little piece as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the House of Repre-
sentatives, it is a high hopor to pre-
sent speaker of the house of repre-