The San Francisco call., 1906-06-15
AR|zONAN
ST|RS IRE
OF CANNON
Dramatic Scene Marks
Passage Of State
hood Bill.
Speaker Leaves Chair in
Passion to Reply to
Delegate.
Enraged by Accusation
Of Use Of Undue
Influence.

years has the House of Representatives
witnessed a more dramatic scene than it
witnessed today incident to the adop-
tion of the conference report on state
hood.
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, Hamilton
of Michigan, chairman of the committee
on territories, called up the conference
report on the statehood bill. In an-
ticipation of something unusual, most
of the members were in their seats,
while the galleries were comfortably
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. At that time he said that he
did not expect any debate. believing
that the report would be adopted with
out discussion. While there was no dis
cussion on the report itself a most
unexpected episode ensued.
Moon of Tennessee, the ranking mem
Der Of the minority of the committee on
territories, had made the statement in
relation TO Int pOSltiOH OI tHc l(cIlO-
Gratis on the compromise agreed upen
in conference. He was frequently in
terrupted with applause and was then
followed by Marcus A. Smith. the dele
gate from Arizona, who took occasion
in a guarded way to insinuate that
undue influence had been used in post
poning an agreement.
CANNON QUITS THE CHAIR.
Smarting under what he believed to
be direct insinuation against him,
Speaker Cannon impetuously left the
chair. calling Dalzeil to the desk. and.
taking position unconsciously in the
aisle Opposite. the seat, which he occu-
pied for many years until chosen
Speaker, he asked the Speaker pro tenn.
for five minutes to explain his position.
Great applause greeted the Speaker as
he stood with hand uplifted, his head
shaking, waiting for quiet in the House.
Again and again waves of applause
swept across the chamber. Democrats
and Republicans participating.
Finally order was restored and then.
measuring every word, Speaker Cannon
said:
"Mr. Speaker, as a member Of the
House of Representatives during this
session, as at all other sessions, 1 have
represented my constituents and acted
for the whole people according to my
best judgment. The coming into the
UniNn of Oklahoma and Indian Terri
tory meets my approval If I had my
choice and were supreme I would inf
nitely prefer to see Oklahoma and In
dian Territory come in separately, with
an aggregate population of two and
one-half millions, with four Senator's
rather than to see New Mexico and Ari-
zona come together, and, God knows
rather than to see them come singly.
o1@
Senators.
MY views are not secret. I have
sought to the best of my belief to voice
them. You have the result before you.
Although every man in the Indian Ter
ritory should vote against statehood
for the new proposed State of Oklaho-
ma, notwithstanding that protest the
State would and will be formed under
this enabling act
BRANDS CHARGE UNTRUE.
Smith of Arizona arose. but Cannon
continued:
Il 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-
siton. I would not have taken the floor
had not the honorable gentleman, the
delegate from Arizona (Smith), made
the remark that there was a high PEN
atty for the Governor of that Territory
to attempt to influence legislation. or
for one Legislative body or its member
ship to attempt to traffic in the legisla-
ton with the other In order to secure
other legislation. if I correctly state
him. 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 a matter of traffic in
order to secure action upon this matter
in the Senate. That imputation. i'm
piled so far as it reflects upon the
Speaker of this House. and, so far as /
know or believe. upon any other MEM
ber of this House, is unworthy of the
gentleman that uttered 1t, and without
the fact. cloud applause.)
IF it were necessary to furnish
proof of this statement, look about
me here on my own side of the House,
on members with whom 1 disagreed
touching the progress of the bill from
time to time, and upon the other side
of the House. and 1 pause and invite
any member present who has the least
intimation, knowledge or even belief
that the statement implied in the in
sinuation of the gentleman is true. to
say So"
PARTY LINES FORGOTTEN.
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 around tho
Speaker to shake him by the hand and
tell him how glad they were that the
long drawn out fight for statehood had
been happily ended in a compromise,
and that his speech voiced the senti-
ment of the members.
The statehood bill now goes to tho
President for his signature.
Chance to Get Rich Land.