The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-12-07
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lew or the startling incidents WnlcF
so often mark the opening Of the two
great National bodies No flowers were
permitted and everybody was glad
The opening session was purely pro-
forTna. as most of Congressional action
is getting to be, because everything
had been arranged beforehand, and the
rails had been creased, so to speak.
The caucuses of the Republicans and
Democrats were held on Saturday ey-
ening and the states fixed up. Nobody
else had ghost of show except the
caucus nominees. of course. There
were no insurgents, so there could be
no kickers. Representative Mann, OF
Illinois, called the Republicans to order
and nominated Representative Pete
Hepburn, Of Iowa, to his old place as
Caucus Chairman. This had been un-
derstood, also, and Mr.. Hepburn, with
out showing any trepidation at the
honor thrust upon him, assumed con-
troll of the caucus and said:
THE principal purpose of our meet
Ing is to name a gentleman for whom
the Republicans OF the House of Rep
resentatives of the seth Congress shall
vote as their candidate for Speaker.
But it is probable that the Republic
cans of the country have anticipated
US in this matter. So far as the pub
lie prints have advised me, or any of
the conversations 1 have had with the
been name suggested for this office
other than one We all know. The NOM
ination has been made. and it is up to
US to say If We shall ratify 1t.
Il would pause for a moment in or
der that any gentleman might name
some other candidate than the man in
the minds of the great multitude of
Republicans. If there Is no gentleman
DESTROYS of so doing, shall proceed
to put the motion, that the Hon. Jo-
seph G. Cannon, a Representative
elect from the State of Illinois, be
named as candidate to be voted for
by the Republican members of the
House of Representatives. of the seth
Congress-
This speech was received with
cheers, and Messrs. Payne, Boutell, and
Curtis were appointed a committee to
notify Mr.. Cannon of the caucus ac-
ton. As Mr.. Cannon entered he was
tumultuousiy greeted, the members
standing Until he had assembled his
former throne. Mr.. Cannon's speech
of acceptance was in part as follows:
Gentlemen: One year ago, after
full consideration, the people, under
the lead of the Republican Party.
elected it's candidates for President and
Vice President, continued a strong Re-
publican majority in the Senate. and
gave Republican majority i'm the
House of Representatives of 112. The
Congress will be organized on Monday
next and will promptly receive the an
nual message from the President. I
will not speculate as to what may be
the contents of the message. / have
no doubt it will be both wise and pat
riotic in it's recommendations.
You, the Republican Representa-
tves in caucus assembled, have unani-
mously chosen me as your candidate
for Speaker of the House. This action
touches me profoundly. i would be
less than human if this action, taken
after service for one Congress, was not
q matter of great qualification. And
yet / do not misunderstood your ac-
ton. 1t would have been impossible
were it not that you believe my action
as presiding officer will. in so far as I
have ability. be fair to the whole men,
bership of the House, both to the party
Of the majority and the party of the
mess of the House."
Mr.. Cannon then said that he be-
ueved that he had been selected be-
cause the Republicans in the House
believed that he would be true to the
the man would be bold indeed who de-
parted from them one iOta, or who
would try to do anything to injure the
prosperity OF the country by injudi-
cious legislation. He then hastily
sketched the progress OF the country
since 1861:
'Since 1851, when our party came
into power, the history of the Repub-
Ncan Party has been substantially the
history OF the country. Our popula-
ton has more than doubled, and our
IL States have been admitted to the
Union; we have today almost one
half Of the worlds railways: the pro-
duct Of our labor more than equals
one-third Of the product Of the labor
Of all the civilized world: by invention
and enterprise. aided by the use of our
great capital, we have harnessed the
forces Of nature and made them our
servants, until Individual effort today
accomplishes for the benefit of all the
people many times more than it did in
the early days of the Republic. Since
Office, in 1897, the expenditures and
revenues of the postal service have
been nearly multiplied by two. This is
the best measure Of the industry, pro-
duction, business, and commerce of our
people.
"The changes in the methods Of pro-
duction and commerce, so salutary
and beneficial, involving as they do the
extraordinary use of combined capital
emphasizes the necessity for prevent
ing agreements in restraint of trade
and the regulation of commerce among
the States and with foreign Nations
THE consensus of opinion OF the
people, however, is that Congress has
the power by amendment to the law
to provide better remedies for real
abuses existing, SO that the producer
and consumer can find a more speedy
and less expensive remedy than we
now have. In this opinion /, for one
concur. The burden is upon Congress
and our party. having power. is pri-
marily responsible.
Let US go forward. But 1t is our
duty to see that legislation is wise in
the premises, just to the corporation
the carrier, and to the people. We
cannot Cypress one by foolish or un.
just legislation without In the enc
bringing disaster upon ALL
The old rules of the House wer.
adopted, and the election of the Other
officers was assured by placing in nom
tnation all the old officers of tn,
House.
The Democrats in their caucus nom
mated John Sharp Williams Miss.
Tor Speaker. and this constitutes hin
the floor manager for the Democrat