The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-22
CONGRESSMAN DISCUSS
STRAIGHT FLUSHES AND
ACES BEFORE VISITORS
Miss Alice Roosevelt Hears Poker
Terms During Debate on the
Army Bill.
PRAISE, FOR ELIHU ROOT
Mississippi Williams Asks Why
Republicans Do Not Stand
Pat" for Free Coal.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-Miss Alice
Roosevelt occupied a seat in the executive
gallery OF the House to-day for a few
moments during the discussion on the
army bill She listened TO such phrases as
stand pat" straight Pushes and aces
probably without gaining much knowledge
of the great American game of poker.
After Mr.. Hull had explained the features
of the bill Mr.. Parker. of New Jersey. was
recognized. In speaking for the bill he paid
high tribute to Secretary Root and pointed
out the many reforms which he said had
been brought about under his administra-
ton, particularly the staff system, the de-
tail system and provisions for schooling
officers.
Mr.. Williams, of Mississippi discussed
for an hour the stand pat policy of the
majority party and talked at length on
his pending BILL repeating the duty on
coal. He read from the testimony before
the House committee of investigation of
the last Congress on the coal question to
show that coal was 81 cents lower a ton
during, the year the tariff repealed.
Mr.. Payne, of New York, asserted that
the price of coal was not less to the con-
sumner during this period.
Mr.. Williams combated this statement
and asked Mr.. Payne why his party did not
stand pat for free coal. He declared it
impossible to find out what the Re
publican party was standing pat on. 1t
was only few days ago" he continued,
that the great L am of the Republican
party delivered a speech in which ne SAID:
We hold the ace. Now | had a private
and confidential conversation with a gen
tleman of this House this morning and he
told me he did not Know single game OF
cards in which the ace wins
I'll tell you what we have got that wins, y
interjected Mr.. Palmer, Of Pennsylvania.
I'VE have a straight flush.
Well, rejoined Mr.. Williams. Il don't
know what a straight flush is. but you
have not got quite as much OF flush as you
are said TO have. Things are not so flush as
they were a while back.
were going 10 stand pat on the currency
question and on the trust question, and
called attention to his bill declaring over
capitalization a public swindle He asked
If they were going to stand pat on the post
office inves tigation, and sked why they had
not permitted an investigation by COM
mittee or the House. de asked IL they were
going to stand pat on the public land bust
ness and If they purpOsed to stand pat on
the ship subsidy question or let that drift
along until after election. He charged that
the Republicans are becoming party of
negation.
Mr. Prince. OF Illinois. a member. of the
military affairs committee, paid tribute to
the army and its officers, pointing to the
fact that the retiring lieutenant general and
the present one came from the ranks The
affairs of the Republic can safely be trusted
in the hands of such an army as that, he
said
Mr. Sulzer (New York; had read a let
| ter from the Medal of Honor Legion of
| New York indorsing the bills proposing a
| service pension for medal-Of-honor vet
| Grams.
Mr. Baker (New York; opposed the army
bill on the ground that he was opposed
| TO war and would not vote to appropriate
= money for preparations for war. 1T should
! be designed as BILL, he said, Ito appro-
| pirate $4,000 600 to put il into the power
| of one strenuous man to get this country
| into possible conflict with every other civ
| ilized nation of the earth" At 8 O'Clock
! general debate on the bill was closed.
| The Senate resolution providing for filling
| vacancies in the regency of the SmithSoni-
! an Institution was passed.