The Washington times., 1904-03-12
Of CHEERS
SWEEPS THE HOUSE
At Mention of Uncle joe
for President.
SMITHS SPEECH DRAMATIC
Outburst of Applause Greets Refer
ence to Speakers Fitness for
Higher Office.

was il intentional or accidental
This is the question which Republicans
of the House are asking each other re-
garding the nomination Of Speaker Can
non for the Presidency by Representa-
tive William Alden Smith of Michigan
yesterday in the course Of the Postof1ce
investigation.
What will be it's enect?" is another
question which is not SO easy 70 answer,
for the anti-ROOsevelt men, those who
shout for the President and wish II
were not necessary 10 nominate him.
are seeking to make the most Of the
Cannon boom. Whether Mr.. Smiths
speech was deliberately planned or
whether it was extemporaneous, the out
burst Of a moments thought. the effect
upon the House was electrical
Mr.. Smith himself declares that he
had no intention Of pitting Uncle joe
against Roosevelt for the Republican
nomination. and that he was as much
surprised as anyone else at the storm
of approval which greeted his words,
but it remains a fact that the eloquent
NIichigander simply swept the House off
it's feet when he proposed the Danville
statesman for President.
Did He Mean It?
Whether he meant TO pit him against
/ the President or not it also remains a
fact that he proposed that the scene OF
Mr.. CannOns labOrs be transferred from
the House Of Representatives To the
Executive Mansion on a day not far
distant" Mr.. Smith was eulogizing the
membership Of the House, defending
them against the Bristow charges.
The House Of Representatives, Mr.
/ Speaker" he said, has always been, in
4 the estimation OF thinking people, the
! highest expression of the popular VIII.
/ To this body have been sent the repre-
| sentative citizens Of the Republic from
/ the time of its birth; men from every
/ State in the Union. and from all the
walks OF life; men of known pTObity and
| character, fairly representative of all
! classes Of our people, who have here dis
I charged their public duty.
Sir. since have been a member OF
/ Cong ess 1 have seen fifteen distinguish
/ ed men chosen from this body and sent
! TO the Senate Of the United States. Since
1 have been a member Of this body, the
/ governors Of five States have been taken
from this House, and they have given
10 their States administration OF which
al have been proud.
Men of Character.
I'VE are the only body of men high IN
! governmental affairs whom thu people
can vote for directly. We aIe theiI
chosen servants, and are here to do then
bidding The contest Is now or between
the representatives Of the people and
| a bureaucracy that has assumed TO sill
/ in judgment upon our official acts with
out political responsibility to anyone
denying to the public information prop
erly belonging to it."
Loud applause greeted this last re
mark. and It gave Mr.. Smith a moment
respite. Then came the climax Mem
bers surged over to the Republican sid
OF the chamber. Mr. Smiths voice RAM
out clear through the chamber as he ex
claimed:
Mr.. Speaker. whenever the peopI
want a popular leader, they come 10 tn
House Of Representatives to get him
and / hope the day is not far distan
when the people will deservedly crow
that great commoner. the Speaker o
the House. with the Presidential Office
for which he is so admirably fitted"
Pandemonium Reigns.
The Congressional Record" thi
morning adds in parenthesis Loud
) long continued and enthusiastic ap
plause," but that only vaguely describe
the scene which followed. Members o.
both SIDES Of the chamber Joined in tn
I demonstration. and the galleries echoe
the sentiment. Mingled with the nois
were calls and shouts such as are sci
dom heard in the House. 1t was a soT
Of Gross of Gold. Crown Of Thorns
speech, and had an effect upon tn
/ House much similar to Bryan's speec
= ia the Chicago convention. In its cor
, ditiou of hysteria the House was read
to name Speaker cannon for Presiden
by reclamation.
p The Speaker was at the time talkin
{ 10 Representative OlmsJed. He did no
catch Mr.. Smiths words. Mr.. Hind:
who stood at his side said: He ia
nominated YOU for President" Tn
Speaker arose, and the smile usual
upon his face faded away. In its stea
there was a stern look as he pounde
, vigorously but ineffectively for ordel
For two minutes pandemOnium reign
ed: men pounded upon their desk!
. stamped their feet. and yelled.
The House leaders say that TN
demonstration meant nothing, that
was an emotional OutbUrst following
period of intense excitement. a spor
taneous tribute to Uncle Joe" Cannon
= who holds the affection Of the member
- to an unusual degree 1t had no pol
tical significance, they assert. as beal
. ing on the coming campaign. Dha
I campaign Will be led by Roosevelt. wit
5 the Republicans Of the House as d
= followers. So says Cannon. Ano
, Z says Smith
a PHOTOGRAPHED HIS FUNERAL.