The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-04-29


Wis.,, Humphrey. CRep. Wash).
Spight, Dem. Miss.), and McDermott,
Oem. ND.
Pleasant Closing.
The time was within five minutes Of
the hour set for adjournment when
Representative Williams (Miss.). the
minority leader, amid impressive ST
lence, was recognized to present res
Olution expressive Of the appreciation
of the house of the fair and impartial
manner in which the speaker had pre-
sided over that body. He prefaced the
resolution with the statement that in
the exercise of a personal, though not
a parliamentary privilege, that it was
very welcome. he desired to offer to
the house and move the adoption Of
a resolution.
That resolution I will now read"
he said. and he read as follows. (Mr
Richardson, Tenn. in the meantime
having taken the chair:
Resolved, That the house of repre-
sentatives return its thanks to its
speaker, Hon. j. G. Cannon Of Illinois
for the fair and impartial and able
manner in which he has presided over
it's deliberat tons and for the sturdy
common sense and genial good humOr
which have been displayed by him and
which have induced the members Of
the house itself, i'm a degree almost I'M
precedented, in imitation of him, TO
display the same sterling American
characteristics m their deliberations
and mutual dealings"
Mr. Williams. following the reading.
which was punctuated with general
applause, said that il was a great
thing to be a speaker of the house of
commons of the American republic.
but that 1t was a greater thing not
to permit the fact of promotion TO that
place, one of the most exalted in the
world, to turn one'h head in the slight
est degree or to defect one from the
course hitherto pursued. of being a
plain American citizen. with eXtraOrd,-
nary common sense and a remarkable
fund OF that most characteristic of all
American qualities-genial humor.
This utterance provoked great ap-
plause from both sides of the house
and the galleries. Mr.. williams con
vulsed the house by referring to a
conversation he once had with the
speaker. in the course Of which he said
7 will always think that you are fair
as 1 believe you viii be-"
Cannonfs Promise.
The speaker, he said replied: John,
7 am going TO be as fair as l can con
sistently with the exigencies OF Amer
lean politics"
Mr. Williams declared that the
speaker did himself an injustice when
he put that limitation on his state
ment but" said Mr. Williams. ut
was characteristic of the frankness and
CandOr of the man to put in the linn
itation."
He then moved the adoption of the
resolution. and that a committee be
appointed "to bring him in" There
was another outburst Of applause The
on rising vote.
Mr. Richardson then selected Messrs.
Payne. Hemenway and Williams to
escort the speaker into the hall In a
few moments the committee escorted
the speaker down the center aisle. and
pandemonium reigned. Democrats and
Republicans alike shrieked and APP
plauded, the occupants OF the galleries
joining
When the speaker had mounted the
rostrum Mr.. Williams, standing by
Mr.. Cannon's side read him the reso-
luton. which had been adopted.
Speaker Visibly Affected.
The speaker was visibly affected. and
as he began to address the house he
barely spoke above a whisper. How
ever. be soon recovered his composure,
and spea king in a distinct voice. said:
81 would be less than human if I did
not voice my thanks TO the members
OF the house for the kindly resolution
adopted unanimously by the house. It
touches me more than ] can express
For almost thirty years I have been
member of this body for good or i'll.
The future Will have to determine if
the present has not decided it. 1 have
seen many congresses begin and close
and during that service I have been
proud and the pride has increased from
one congress to another to be a mem
Der of this body that represents direct
~ $4,000. 600 Of peODle competent for