Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-04
Meeting Of Republican and
Democratic Representatives
DOUBLE PRESENTATION
LOVING CUPS GIVEN SPEAKER
AND MINORITY LEADER.
Scenes of Unrestrained Jollity and
Good Will on the Floor of the
House This Morning.

There was joint caucus of the republic
cans and democrats of the House of Rep
resentatives this morning. genuine love
feast-where political enmities, great and
small. were forgotten. where party oppo-
nents fraternized and where friendship and
good feeling regard and affection reigned
supreme.
And before It was over the entire mem
bership of the House had presented to
Speaker Cannon a massive and beautiful
loving cup; the democrats had presented
loving cup to their own leader, John Sharp
williams, and the republicans. with shouts
and yells. and to the accompaniment of
stamping feet and Gathering desks. had
nominated Uncle joe to the highest Of
flee In the land"
Altogether 1t a closing scene well
worth watching, and certainly not to be
forgotten. There is always something Of
interest in the House chamber during the
closing hours of a session of Congress, and
It Is not often that a scene like that of
this morning is enacted
The Cup Behind Time.
For a time this morning it was feared
that the ceremonies attendant upon the
presentation of the cup would be rather
lacking in important respect, as the
great loving cup had not arrived on the
scene. Finally Representative Littauer Of
New York called up the concern on the
long distance telephone and was informed
that a special messenger had left for WASH
!ngton with the cup on the . o'clock train
last night
The cup didn't reach the Capitol until
IL o'clock, and received with joy by
the anxious members.
Speaker Cannon was locked out of his
own private ROOM and as soon as it was
IN position, the House. having finished all
business before 1t, took recess of half an
hour
The Joint Caucus.
Then Representative Payne of New York.
the republican floor leader, with a grin on
his face a yard wide, announced that
joint caucus of the House republicans and
democrats had been decided upon.
And then the racket and din was enough
TO wake the dead. Not content with ordi-
nary hand-clapping the older members
waved their handkerchiefs and shouted, the
younger members banged their desks and
whooped. and everybody on the floor ire
spective of political creed or party devoted
his entire attention to making the greatest
possible amount of noise. Some of the
members even stood on their chairs to give
freer reign to their enthusiasm and it was
five minutes before Representative Hepburn
OF Iowa, who had taken the chair-the
could make himself heard
MT. Hepburn provoked laughter by saving
lhat there were occasions when a mild re-
publican like himself could be permitted to
preside over a democratic" caucus and
when distinguished democrat could pre-
side over a republican" caucus.
Mr. Hay of Virginia, chairman of the
regular democratic caucus, then took the
chair and spoke in humorous vein. The
occasion. he said, was the most unique In
the political history of the country. He
did not believe, he said. that there had
ever been joint caucus of that character
before.
Presentation to the Speaker.
A pleasing incident, said to be without
precedent. then occurred. Speaker Cannon
was presented with a handsome loving cup,
the tribute of affection and esteem of the
members, regardless of party. The pres
entation speech was made by Mr.. Bouten
of Illinois, and was punctuated throughout
with applause, the members several times
rising en- masse and cheering.
He was followed by Mr.. Williams (Mss.).
the minority leader, who also delivered a
most feeling and appropriate address
Amid deafening applause. Speaker Can
non rose to respond. He spoke follows:
"A gift from master to servant humbles
the recipient A gift from servant to mas
ter embarrasses the master gift from
equal to equal. when prompted by conf
dence and esteem, Is like unto apples of
gold in pictures of silver The men who
compose the national House of Representa-
tlves. with their warrant of attorney from
q great people, have no superiors. They
are all equals I am proud that l am one
OF you. / am more gratlfed to receive this
gift than words will express. 1 receive 1t
as token OF your respect for me as one
Of you. I
This loving cup, Notwithstanding its
magnificent proportions Is not large enough
TO contain my thanks, my confidence in. re-
spect for and love of you one and ALL
Tribute to Minority Leader.
When the enthusiasm had subsidized. Mr..
Clark (Mo) produced a second demonstra-
ton by presenting John Sharp Williams
(Miss). the minority leader with loving
cup, the gift OF his democratic colleagues
Like Mr. Boutwell, his remarks were pecu-
uarly appropriate and expressive of the es-
TEEN In which Mr.. Williams Is held
When Mr.. Williams arose to respond he
was accorded the same spontaneous and
general applause given to the Speaker. He
said in part:
Il have been touched by the words of nv
friend from Missouri My colleag CUES I
have felt at times the burden of appre-
hended. even approaching failure In at
tending TO the duties which YOU have laid
upon me. l WILL therefore. only say now
that IT affords me and will afford mo
hereafter unceaslng pleasure to know that
you are pleased to say that / have meas
urably well succeeded. 1t affords me the
same degree of pleasure to know that you
are pleased to say or that you are pleased
when he said that in whatever measure /
might have succeeded or failed I had
fried to do my work and had succeeded
thus far. at any rate, in indulging In no
sort of enmity. no sort of luminosity and
no sort Of malice"