Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-15
SPEAKER CANNON
ANSWERS MOON
HOUSE MEMBERS TREATED TO
STIRRING ADDRESS
Tennessee Representative Throws Hot
Shot at Republicans in Explain
ing His Position on State
hood Affairs
BY Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, June 14-Not in
years has the house of representatives
witnessed more dramatic scene than
it witnessed today incident to the
adoption of the conference report on
statehood.
At the close of a wearisome days
debate on the sundry civil bill, the geo.
logical survey discussion occupying the
major portion of the time, Mr.. Hamil-
ton of Michigan, chairman of the COM
mittee on territories. called up the con-
ference report on the statehood bill. In
anticipation of something unusual
most of the members were in their seats
while the galleries were comforta bly,
filled.
A round of cheers greeted the chair
man of the committee when he moved
the adoption of the report. Earlier in
the day he had endeavored to call UP
the report, but found that the papers
had not reached the house from the
senate.
Did Not Expect Debate
At that time he stated that he did not
expect any debate, believing that the
report would be adopted without dis
cussion. While there was no discus
sion on the report itself a most unex-
pected episode enSued
Mr.. Moon of Tennessee, the ranking
member of the minority on the commit
tee on territories. had made the state
ment in relation to the position of the
Democrats on the compromise agreed
upon in conference. He was frequently
interrupted with applause and was
then followed by Mr.. Marcus A. Smith,
the delegate from Arizona, who took
occasion in a guarded way to insinuate
that there had been undue influence
used in postponing an agreement.
Smarting under what he believed to
be a direct inSinuation against him,
Speaker Cannon left the chair, calling
Mr.. Dalzell to the desk and taking
position uncOnsciously in the aisle
opposite the seat which he occupied for
many years until chosen speaker, he
asked the speaker pro tenn for five
minutes to explain his position.
Applause Greets Speaker
Thunders of applause greeted the
speaker as he stood with hand uplifted
his head shaking, waiting for a quiet
house Again and again waves of ap-
plause swept over the chamber Demo-
Gratis and Republicans participating.
measuring every word, Speaker Can
non said
Mr.. Speaker, as a member of the
house Of representatives during this
session, as at all other sessions, / have
represented my constituents and acted
for the whole people, according to my
best judgment The coming into the
union of Oklahoma and Indian Terri
tory meets my approval
i
preme, / would infinitely prefer to see
Oklahoma and Indian Territory come in
separately with an aggregate popula-
tion of two and one half millions, with
four senator's, rather than to see New
Mexico and Arizona come together and
God knows rather than see them come
singly with about three hundred thou
Sand population and four senator's.
Views Not Secret
my views are not secret; have
sought to the best of my belief to voice
them You have the result before you.
although every man in the Indian
| Territory should vote against state
hood for the new proposed state of
| Oklahoma, tWithstanding that pro-
test, the state would be and will be
formed under this enabling act"
Mr.. Smith of Arizona rose.
Mr.. Cannon:
II do not yield at this moment. There
| is no separate vote there. There is a
| separate vote. however, as to the other
| two So much for that | don't pro-
pose to go into the merits of this propo-
sition. l would not have taken the
! floor had not that honorable gentle
man, the delegate from Arizona (Mr
| Smith) made the remark that there was
high penalty for the government Of
| hot ri IN to f,,a
! legislation or for one legislative body
| or its membership to attempt to traffic
in the legislation with the other in or
| der to secure other legislation, If
correctly state him.
Objects to Inslnuation
"That remark could have had but
one motive and one meaning, and
| that meaning is that some one in the
house has sought to affect legislation
in the house as matter OF traffic in
order to secure action upon this matter
| in the senate. That imputation, inn
| piled so far as 1t reflects upon the
! speaker of this house. and, so far as
| / know or believe upon any other
member of this house, is unworthy of
the gentleman that uttered t and
without foundation in fact. Cloud ap-
plause)
IT III was lecehSafy 10 turnlSh proof
of this statement, look about me here
on my side of the house. on the men,
bers with whom l disagreed touching
the progress of the bin from time to
time, and upon the other side of the
! house, and / pause anC invite any
member present who has the least inti-
nation, knowledge, or even belief that
the statement implied In the insinua-
tion Of the gentleman is true to say So"
When Speaker Cannon finished the
house was in an uproar. 1t could not
be controlled, nor did the presiding
officer make any effort to do so. Mem
bers who had sat In silence during the
delivery of the Speech Democrats and
Republicans alike, crowded about the
speaker to shake him by the hand and
tell him how glad they We're that the
long drawn out aght fgr statehood had